Media Accreditation for World Hockey Championships

By Nastassia Marynina, President – Belarusian Sports Press Association
MINSK, January 31, 2014 – Journalists planning to cover the 2014 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship from May 9-25th in Minsk need to only apply for the accreditation for the tournament that will also serve as their visa entry for Belarus.

One of the rinks ready for the IIHF World Hockey Championships

There have been concerns that foreign journalists may need to acquire extra accreditation from the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

But Piotr Rabukhin, the Manager of the IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship Organizing Committee sought to allay these fears.

“Media members accredited by the IIHF for working at the World Championship will not be required to obtain a visa for entry into Belarus (for the detailed explanations visit the IIHF web-site (http://www.iihfworlds2014.com),” Rabukhi said in a statement.

“Journalists who will not have the IIHF accreditation (and will not be part of their quota – 300 print media plus 100 photo-journalists), should be accredited by the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (for the detailed explanations visit the BMFA web-site – http://www.mfa.gov.by/press/accreditation).”

He maintained that there will be no limit for the accredited media to carry out their duties while they are in Belarus.

“Do not trust false and unverified information! For all the explanations please address the Organizing Committee directly (http://www.iihfworlds2014.com/en/information/#organizing-committee),” he added.

The head of the organising committee said they are working hard to provide journalists with the best working conditions and have reserved media hotels in the downtown area of Minsk and in two new hotels located near the arena. There will also be shuttle-buses to travel from hotels to the arenas.