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Polish MEP calls for last-ditch effort to move 2014 world hockey championship from Belarus

 

There is still time to convince representatives of national federations that the 2014 World Ice Hockey Championship should be moved from Belarus to a different venue, Polish MEP Marek Migalski said on Wednesday, speaking during a public hearing hosted by the European Parliament.

The hearing on the International Ice Hockey Federation’s plans to hold the tournament in Minsk had been organized by European Parliament members Olle Schmidt and Morten Lokkegaard. A final decision on the issue is expected to be made by the Federation next month.

In his speech, Mr. Migalski spoke about measures taken by the European Parliament to change the venue of the championship and about public campaigns against holding the event in Belarus. According to him, more than 18,700 people have already signed an online petition launched by him and Slovak hockey legend and MEP Peter Stastny against the championship in Belarus.

The European Union should put its slogans about European values and human rights into practice by preventing Alyaksandr Lukashenka from hosting the world ice hockey championship and using it for self-promotion, Mr. Migalski stressed.

The International Ice Hockey Federation has repeatedly warned that it will not move the championship from Belarus to a different venue. //BelaPAN