Belarus does not understand that it is taking away the World Hockey Championships

President Lukashenko sticks in hand -

Belarus said Tuesday “regretted” the “unfounded” decision of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) to withdraw from Minsk the organization of the next World Cup scheduled for May and June.

"The Organizing Committee for the 2021 Ice Hockey World Cup in Minsk regrets the unfounded decision taken by the IIHF to withdraw this tournament in Belarus," he said in a statement published on the Belarusian government website.

He also denounced a transformation of sports competitions into an "instrument of discord and pressure to please politicians".

"Since the moment when Belarus was chosen as the host country for the 2021 World Cup, it has flawlessly fulfilled its contractual obligations on the organization of the tournament in our country and has done significant work to this end," said the statement.

"Impossible to guarantee the well-being of the teams"

The International Ice Hockey Federation on Monday withdrew from Minsk the organization of the World Cup, under pressure from opponents and sponsors who denounce political repression in Belarus.

The IIHF Council "has determined that it is currently impossible to ensure the well-being of teams, spectators and officials" in such a competition, the body said in a statement.

Scheduled from May 21 to June 6, the tournament was to be co-hosted by Belarus and Latvia, and represented a major showcase for Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, whose controversial re-election last August sparked months of protests.

• Alexander Lukashenko

• Sport

• Belarus

• Ice Hockey