2014 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships
Encyclopedia
2014 IIHF World Championship will be hosted by Belarus
in its capital Minsk
.
On May 8, 2009 the Belarusian bid was successful and got 75 votes in the race for hosting the 2014 IIHF World Championship. The application with the slogan “Welcome to the young hockey country” beat out those from Hungary (24 votes), Latvia (3), and Ukraine (3).
The two main venues listed as hosts for the ice hockey teams are Minsk-Arena
(capacity around 15000) and Chizhovka-Arena (capacity around 8000). Both are under construction: the first one has been completed in 2010, whereas construction of Chizhovka-Arena
is in initial stage and is expected to be finished by December 2010.
The selection of Belarus has hosts has caused controversy. On April 11, 2011, United States Senator Dick Durbin and Representative Michael Quigley
urged the IIHF to move the World Championships to another location, citing concerns over the authoritarian government of Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko
. Lukashenko's actions have resulted in numerous sanctions placed on himself and 157 of his associates by the European Union and United States. Senator Durbin and Representative Quigley were supported by former Slovak ice hockey player and current Member of the European Parliament Peter Stastny
.
Belarus
Belarus , officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered clockwise by Russia to the northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Its capital is Minsk; other major cities include Brest, Grodno , Gomel ,...
in its capital Minsk
Minsk
- Ecological situation :The ecological situation is monitored by Republican Center of Radioactive and Environmental Control .During 2003–2008 the overall weight of contaminants increased from 186,000 to 247,400 tons. The change of gas as industrial fuel to mazut for financial reasons has worsened...
.
On May 8, 2009 the Belarusian bid was successful and got 75 votes in the race for hosting the 2014 IIHF World Championship. The application with the slogan “Welcome to the young hockey country” beat out those from Hungary (24 votes), Latvia (3), and Ukraine (3).
The two main venues listed as hosts for the ice hockey teams are Minsk-Arena
Minsk-Arena
Minsk-Arena is a multi-use indoor arena in Minsk, Belarus. The Minsk-Arena Complex is unique in its complexity and functionality not only in Belarus but also in Europe...
(capacity around 15000) and Chizhovka-Arena (capacity around 8000). Both are under construction: the first one has been completed in 2010, whereas construction of Chizhovka-Arena
Chizhovka-Arena
Chizhovka-Arena is a multi-use indoor arena in Minsk, Belarus that will start construction in July 2009. It will be used mostly for concerts, ice hockey and other indoor sporting events. The arena will have a capacity of ~8,500 people. It is listed as one of two main venues for the 2014 Men's...
is in initial stage and is expected to be finished by December 2010.
The selection of Belarus has hosts has caused controversy. On April 11, 2011, United States Senator Dick Durbin and Representative Michael Quigley
Michael Quigley
Michael "Mike" Quigley is the U.S. Representative for , serving since the April 7, 2009 special election. He is a member of the Democratic Party. Quigley is a former member of the Cook County Board of Commissioners, where he represented Chicago's northside neighborhoods of Lakeview, Uptown and...
urged the IIHF to move the World Championships to another location, citing concerns over the authoritarian government of Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko
Alexander Lukashenko
Alexander Grigoryevich Lukashenko has been serving as the President of Belarus since 20 July 1994. Before his career as a politician, Lukashenko worked as director of a state-owned agricultural farm. Under Lukashenko's rule, Belarus has come to be viewed as a state whose conduct is out of line...
. Lukashenko's actions have resulted in numerous sanctions placed on himself and 157 of his associates by the European Union and United States. Senator Durbin and Representative Quigley were supported by former Slovak ice hockey player and current Member of the European Parliament Peter Stastny
Peter Stastny
Peter Šťastný , also known colloquially as "Peter the Great" and "Stosh", is a retired Slovak professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League from 1980 to 1995. During his time with the Quebec Nordiques, Stastny became a Canadian citizen. Since 2004, he has also served as a...
.