Monday, 8 March 2021
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has refused to recognise the election of Viktor Lukashenko as President of the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of the Republic of Belarus and Dmitry Baskov as a Board member.
Viktor Lukashenko replaced his father Alexander, the Belarus President, as head of the body during the NOC s General Assembly last month.
Both men were banned from attending the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games by the IOC in December after allegations of political discrimination towards athletes following protests against Lukashenko’s controversial re-election as Belarus President last August.
Belarusian Ice Hockey Association President and NOCRB Board member Baskov was also sanctioned by the IOC.
IIHF visits Latvia as decision looms on 2021 Men’s World Championship host Sunday, 31 January 2021
An International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) delegation has visited Latvia as the governing body prepares to make a decision on whether the country can stage this year’s Men’s World Championship.
Minsk in Belarus was originally set to co-host the event along with Riga in Latvia before it was stripped of the rights due to safety and security concerns in the country.
Latvia has offered to hold the entire tournament, but IIHF President René Fasel is currently engaged in talks with Herning in Denmark and Bratislava in Slovakia over the possibility of staging matches.
IIHF President says no decision on Men’s World Championship location this week Wednesday, 27 January 2021
International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) President René Fasel has admitted it is probably better to stage this year’s Men’s World Championships in one country rather than two, but now says a decision on the host will not be made until next week.
It was previously suggested that an announcement on the staging of the tournament would be made today or yesterday.
But speaking to Russia’s official state new agency
TASS, Fasel insists the IIHF need more information as the organisation considers offers from Latvia, Denmark and Slovakia.
Wednesday, 20 January 2021
International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) President René Fasel has suggested Belarus will receive financial compensation after the country was stripped of co-hosting the Men s World Championship.
The IIHF Council decided to move the World Championship from Belarus this week due to safety and security issues.
There had been mounting pressure to strip the country of the tournament following the disputed re-election of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in August.
An IIHF Expert Group had also expressed scepticism over the reporting of COVID-19 cases in Belarus following a review into the situation.
According to Russian state news agency
TASS, Fasel revealed Belarus would receive compensation for the decision.