Latvia should organize its 2021 World Hockey Championship group, not specify what to do with its neighbors in Belarus, former long-term president of the Latvian Hockey Federation (LHF) Kirov Lipman said in a conversation with the Internet resource “bytribuna.global.ssl.fastly.net”.
In a conversation with the Internet information resource, Lipmans reminds that since Latvia did not have a second large competition arena, Latvia offered to host the teams of the second group to Belarus, which agreed to claim the semi-finals and finals.
“And after all, to say that Latvia does not want to hold a championship together with Belarus?” outraged Lipman. He emphasizes that this case is not about the President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, but it is a disrespect for the country, and “no matter what happens to the authorities, the people have nothing to do with it”.
“What part do you have in the second group matches? The International Hockey Federation (IIHF) has to deal with it. Latvia was given the championship, we have our own matches, we have to prepare for them and take them away, but where the second group matches will take place is not our business. , “said the businessman. “I am very hurt and offended that our federation has such an attitude. There are dilettante, people do not understand this issue, and politicians understand it all even worse.”
He emphasizes that, in his opinion, the Belarusian Hockey Federation (FHB) is an organization with strong enough and competent leadership, which hosted a good world championship in 2014. Lipman says that most likely, even in the current situation, the Belarusians will go to hockey, because they like it and they attend games.
Another question is how the countries that have to play in the Belarus will look at the organization of the championship. Lipman reminds that the IIHF will decide on this on November 18 at the council meeting and that this issue does not concern Latvia. If Latvia is offered to host the championship alone, it can be agreed, but it cannot be offered by itself, it is not allowed, the long-term hockey functionary believes.
Watching the television channel “Present Time”, Lipman is informed about what is happening in the neighboring country. He admits that it is scary if one person can decide the fate of a million.
“I have nothing against Lukashenko, but he could go in time and be remembered for many years. And when a person runs longer than necessary, opinions about him change,” says Lipman, citing his friend IIHF president Swiss René Fezel, who has announced his resignation next year. “In this case, the good opinion of the person will remain, all the bad things he has done will be in the background.”
Lipman regrets that the authorities are targeting the people of Belarus with bullets and sticks. His wife’s relatives are from the Belarusian city of Sluck, the host has a representative office in Belarus, and Lipman has frequently visited a neighboring country before the Covid-19 pandemic.
Lipman hopes that by November 18, the neighbors will be able to resolve the crisis in the country and the championship will take place in Belarus, but “the international federation will probably be concerned about security and fear possible disorder”. Lipmans mentions that the prospects of the neighboring country may also be affected by the recent sanctions imposed by the European Union on Lukashenko and 14 other people.
Lipman stresses that the IIHF and Fezel have repeatedly stated that they try not to confuse politics with sports, and the former LHF president believes that if the championship takes place in Belarus, “people will understand how strong the IIHF is and how much it resists political influence.”
The businessman also talks about the change of opinion in the IIHF, saying that “two or three weeks ago, Fazo had no doubt that Belarus should host the championship, and there could be no talk of relocating it.”
“IIHF Secretary-General Horst Lihtner was also in favor of not changing anything,” Lipman said of the change. “But then the Belarusian authorities started to reassure the people, in my opinion, by the wrong methods, because we must not use weapons against the people, it is not a war. So, in my opinion, Fezel is already beginning to doubt, and the most unexpected decision may be made on November 18. “
Lipman does not rule out that the World Cup may be canceled altogether due to Covid-19. He also thinks that a second hall can be built in Latvia, and the championship can take place in Riga. He recalls that the situation was the same during the 2006 championship. The “Arena Riga” was built, but the preparation of the second temporary arena “takes four to five months”.
The long-term Latvian hockey manager does not think that as a result of the chaos in the neighboring country, Latvia may be left without a championship at all. The games in Minsk could be transferred to another country, and that would be the best option in this situation, Lipman believes, adding that Finland and Norway would like to host a tournament, and Russia would agree to that as well.
He emphasizes that if Latvia takes over the world championship in full, it may cause dissatisfaction among the entire Belarusian people.
The 2021 World Championship is organized by Minsk together with Riga, but the games of the decisive phase of the tournament are planned in the capital of Belarus.
In 2022 it is planned to host the tournament for Finland (Helsinki and Tampere), in 2023 – for Russia (St. Petersburg), in 2024 for the Czech Republic (Prague and Ostrava), and in 2025 – for Sweden and Denmark.
The 2021 World Championship is scheduled for May 21 to June 6.
Riga has hosted the World Championships for the only time so far in 2006, while the tournament in Minsk took place in 2014.
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