Ernest Aljancic (IIHF Council Member and Chairman of the IIHF Event Committee) has visited Minsk several times on different occasions. This time his goal was to evaluate Minsk as a place to host the IIHF World Championship in 2014.

During his short stay in the Belarusian capital, Mr. Aljancic has visited several top-class hotels, building site of the Minsk-Arena and had a meeting with the BIHA Chairman Mr Naumov and the Mayor of the City of Minsk Mr. Pavlov.

On Friday, several hours prior to departure of the guest, the press-conference was held in the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Minsk. 
Mr. Aljancic has several times underlined the progress that Belarus has made during the last several years and said that his first objective was to advise and direct the young hockey nation. He also stated that all the competing countries (Belarus, Czech Republic, Hungary, Latvia and Ukraine) are now at the starting point and have all the same chances to win the race.

The press-conference ended with the presentation of the Minsk-2014 Bid logo. 
About a year ago, the BIHA announced an open contest and received around 200 logos from amateurs and professionals, children and students. 
The winner was proposed by a professional designer Victoria Adamovich. It combines the national Belarusian colours and hockey themes in a dynamic blend of forms and colour.

PHOTO: PRESSBALL