News of the IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship in Minsk and Riga

PM: Belarus, Latvia will strengthen relations as they co-host IIHF WC

MINSK, 16 January (BelTA) - Belarus and Latvia will strengthen relations as they co-host the IIHF World Championship, Belarus Prime Minister Sergei Rumas said at a joint meeting of the Belarusian and Latvian organizing committees for the 2021 IIHF World Championship in Minsk on 16 January, BelTA has learned.

“I am sure that the co-hosting of the IIHF World Championship will further strengthen our good-neighborly relations. Both Latvia and Belarus have already accumulated quite a lot of experience of hosting international competitions. Latvia hosted the IIHF World Championship in 2006 and Belarus in 2014. According to the International Ice Hockey Federation and fans, those were very successful championships,” Sergei Rumas said.

He noted that Belarus is very serious about hosting the 2021 IIHF World Championship. This issue is under the constant control of the head of state. Sergei Rumas recalled that a decree has been signed recently to regulate the organizational matters, to waive visas for fans, and regulate other issues.

The head of government offered to compare the notes, to consider the organizational issues and focus on the joint decisions that need to be taken in the near future.

 Latvia’s Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins, for his part, noted that hockey is an important sport for both Belarus and Latvia. “We are really excited to host this championship and we are happy to co-host it with you," he added. "As for the practical issues related to border-crossing and transport, we are going to do everything we can.”

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