Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 12 June (BelTA) – The main facilities for the 2014 IIHF World Championship should be completed before the end of the year, Belarus Prime Minister Mikhail Myasnikovich said at a meeting of the World Championship organizing committee on 12 June, BelTA learned.

According to the head of government the multifunctional sports and entertainment center Chizhovka Arena is to be put into operation by 7 November. The landscaping works around the arena should be completed by 1 December. "Starting form 1 December Chizhovka Arena should be operational” said Mikhail Myasnikovich.

The construction of another large complex Aqua Minsk and the adjacent infrastructure is on track to be complete by the end of the year. The new building of the Museum of the Great Patriotic War should be delivered by 1 August.

The Prime Minister urged to make sure that the construction of ten new hotels and preparation of student residences to welcome guests of the championship should be completed on schedule. The new hotels will create new 1,200 jobs. Mikhail Myasnikovich instructed to organize the English language courses for the personnel.

"With regard to the preparation of the transport infrastructure, landscaping works everything should be done this year, before 1 October," he said.

According to Mikhail Myasnikovich, the upcoming IIHF World Championships is the landmark event for Belarus, and it should be held on a high level.

Mink mayor Nikolai Ladutko assured that the face-lifting, major maintenance and construction of objects, and development of transport infrastructure will be done on time. The first phase of the road interchange Orlovskaya-Timiryazeva Streets will be opened in June. The second stage of the project will be completed by the late September. The second phase of the road interchange along Dzerzhinskogo Avenue will be commissioned by October. “Thus, the traffic interchanges planned for optimization of the city traffic will be delivered this year,” he said.

Ten new hotels will come on stream by the end of the year. The preparation of the student dormitories to accommodate hockey fans and tourists should be completed in 2013, too.

Close attention is attached to the renewal of the passenger transport fleet: new buses and metro cars are acquired.

Minsk’s looks will also change ahead of the IIHF World Championship. The city will acquire new outside decorations and new elements of illumination.