Over 400 journalists accredited for 2014 IIHF World Championship

As a rule the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) accredits 400 media representatives for world championships (300 journalists and 100 press photographers). The number of media representatives accredited for IIHF 2014 World Championship in Minsk has already exceeded that figure, Evgeny Vorsin, head of the Directorate for the IIHF WC 2014, said during a press conference dedicated to the beginning of the sports event, BelTA has learned.

“We received 1,150 accreditation applications from different countries, but everyone knows the rules of the IIHF. By the moment we have accredited 411 media representatives and continue receiving applications,” Evgeny Vorsin said and noted that many of the journalists are already in the Belarusian capital.

Evgeny Vorsin also said that volunteers also started their work. The organizing committee of the championship chose some 1,300 people out of 3,500 applicants. The volunteers took a number of training programs organized by specialists working in different fields: boarder guards, customs services, etc. All in all, the volunteers will be involved in 11 types of activities. Special attention was paid to the training of escort interpreters and those, who will work with hockey teams, medical services, and doping control officers.

Evgeny Vorsin said that the Belarusian volunteers, who participated in the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Games, will also be involved in the organization of the IIHF World Championship in Minsk.

The organizing committee said that it received many applications from volunteers with specific skills. The directorate invited a large group of Russian specialists who will help organize the matches and process the statistical data.