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Hockey federation denies report that members of national team demanded $500,000 as Olympics qualification bonus

The Belarusian Ice Hockey Federation (BIHF) has denied a report that the members of the national team demanded to be paid $500,000 as a bonus for qualifying for the 2014 Sochi Olympics.

Journalist Syarhey Novikaw wrote with reference to a sports official earlier this week that the team's players had made the demand days before their February 7-10 Olympic qualification tournament in Denmark.

The team failed to qualify for the Olympics after losing to underdogs Slovenia in the opening game of the tournament.

In its statement on Tuesday, the BIHF said that representing Belarus was a "matter of honor, not money" for the members of the national team.

The federation said that no such demands had been made and expressed bewilderment over the report.

When reached by BelaPAN, Mr. Novikaw said that he would not disclose his source. "The remark that I was referring to was made in public, during a formal event. Several dozen people beside me were in attendance," he said.