Belarus

The president of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), Rene Fasel, has defended his meeting with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, saying his organization "came in with specific requirements that the government should fulfill in order that [this year's] World Championship can take place in Minsk." … [Read more...] about Ice Hockey: Belarus must meet ‘specific requirements’ to host World Championship

PRAGUE: Volkswagen's Skoda Auto will not sponsor this year's ice hockey world championship if the event is held in Belarus, due to the host country's recent human rights record, the carmaker said on Saturday.Belarus, which is due to host the tournament in May-June, is facing calls for it to be stripped of the event because of President Alexander Lukashenko's crackdown on protesters opposing his re-election."We've been a proud partner for 28 years. But we also respect & promote all human rights," the carmaker said on Twitter."Therefore, SKODA will withdraw from sponsoring the 2021 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship if Belarus is confirmed to be co-hosting the event," Skoda said.Denying Belarus the right to host the event would deprive Lukashenko, an avid hockey fan and player, of staging a major international event in Belarus for the first time since his disputed re-election last August. His opponents say the vote was rigged. … [Read more...] about Skoda Auto says will not sponsor ice hockey world cup in Belarus

Fasel met with longtime Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko in Minsk last Monday, saying he wanted to use the tournament to build bridges between Lukashenko and the opposition. However, opposition groups criticized Fasel after he was pictured embracing Lukashenko. Fasel said the gesture didn’t mean the IIHF was taking sides in Belarusian politics. … [Read more...] about World men’s ice hockey championship moved out of Belarus

What is the situation in Belarus? Belarus has experienced political unrest since the controversial re-election of authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko in August. The opposition refuse to recognize the result. Authorities cracked down hard on largely peaceful demonstrations that followed. The European Union imposed sanctions on Lukashenko for the reaction to the protests.  … [Read more...] about Ice Hockey World Championship: Belarus loses host role

'Embarrassing' embrace And its presidentcertainly did himself no favor by embracing Lukashenko at the start of a meeting in Minsk last week. Fasel, who has admitted to having felt embarrassed when video of the embrace hit the media, subsequently took great pains to play it down, saying that hugging in Belarus was the equivalent of a handshake elsewhere. He also said he and his delegation were trying to "build bridges" between Lukashenko and the opposition – a phrase reminiscent of other sports functionaries before him.  … [Read more...] about Opinion: IIHF gets Belarus decision right, perhaps a bit late

Like it or not, politics and sports do mix  Despite these circumstances, the IIHF long seemed to be dithering on a decision to revoke Minsk's co-hosting rights, which put its president in a very difficult position. On the one hand, he tirelessly stressed that the IIHF is not a political organization; it's all about the game on the ice. … [Read more...] about Opinion: Ice Hockey Federation gets Belarus decision right, perhaps a bit late