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As the 2014 IIHF World Championship preliminary-round was nearing completion both numerous fans and the championship’s officials shared their impressions of the world’s sporting forum. At the press conference in Minsk Arena on 19 May President of the International Ice Hockey Federation Rene Fasel, IIHF General Secretary Horst Lichtner and Head of the Belarusian Ice Hockey Federation Yevgeny Vorsin spoke of their observations and presented some interesting figures which have already become a new achievement for the world tournament. For instance, the games in Minsk are broadcast live by 150 TV companies worldwide. That is 30 more than last year. The total TV audience of the championship might exceed one billion for the first time ever. The overall attendance of the preliminary round reached 536,518. Thus, Minsk 2014 is on track to surpass the record set in 2004 in the Czech Republic with a total attendance of 552,097. "If we continue like this here it will be the best World Championship with the numbers, with the organization and with the fans," Rene Fasel noted. More in the video.