9.03.2021, 10:15
PHOTO: FACEBOOK
The IOC does not want to see Lukashenka s family at the head of the NOC.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has made a very strong decision by not recognizing Viktar Lukashenka as president of the National Olympic Committee (NOC). This opinion was expressed by Executive Director of the Belarusian Sport Solidarity Foundation (BSSF)
Aliaksandr Apeikin in a conversation with RBC Sport. The decision is fully consistent with our expectations. Our primary goal is to protect the rights of athletes. At the same time, we do not have a goal to deprive Belarus of the flag or to suspend anyone, - Apeikin says. He also notes that the IOC has quickly responded to the violation of human rights in Belarus. It s clear to everyone that the Olympic meeting was not held in accordance with the rules and Lukashenka was actually appointed, not elected, - Apeikin adds.
Saturday, 16 January 2021
Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya has denied her representatives spoke with International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) President René Fasel prior to his controversial meeting with Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko.
Fasel told Swiss website
Watson that the governing body has been seeking talks with representatives of the Government and also with the opposition .
The IIHF President said he had spoken to someone close to Svetlana Tikhanovskaya prior to the meeting and raised the issue of political prisoners with Lukashenko.
A statement issued by Tikhanovskaya denied having contact with Fasel prior to the meeting, however, with the Belarus opposition leader insisting the IIHF Men’s World Championship be removed from the country.
Friday, 15 January 2021
International Ice Hockey Federation President Rene Fasel has revealed that Latvia have made an offer to host the 2021 World Championships on their own if Belarus were to be stripped of co-host status.
Fasel told Russia s official state news agency
TASS: We received an offer from Latvia. They said they are ready to host 16 teams in two arenas in Riga.
A decision is expected at an IIHF Council meeting scheduled for late January. I think that within 5-10 days there will be a decision on Minsk. We need to hold several more meetings. If we cancel Minsk, then maybe other federations will come to us with a proposal, this is also possible, said Fasel, a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
28.12.2020, 16:24
The search for alternatives is in full swing.
IIHF president Rene Fasel has not yet officially cancelled the Ice Hockey World Championship in Belarus. However, the search for alternatives is in full swing. Latvia (Riga), the Czech Republic (Prague) and Slovakia (Bratislava) have the best chance to host the tournament.
The IIHF head wants to personally inform Aliaksandr Lukashenka about the postponement of the tournament, reports Tribuna, citing Watson.
The Latvian federation can host the World Cup, but it has only one arena with a capacity of about 10,000 spectators. If spectators are allowed in limited numbers, then we are dependent on a large arena, Fasel said.
18.12.2020, 9:32
The usurper must be stopped as soon as possible.
The European Union should act faster and more decisively with respect to Lukashenka s regime. This opinion is expressed by political scientist
He is convinced that the argument that economic sanctions will strongly affect the ordinary Belarusians is untenable. Because the police batons hit them much harder .
The professor also said that some of the sanctions measures are more relevant for Latvia than for other EU countries. In particular, it was originally assumed that the next World Hockey Championship would be held in both Latvia and Belarus. However, our government, I think, has quite reasonably stated that the co-hosting should not take place. Let us also take into account that