Lukashenka's Christmas hockey tournament canceled


Lukashenka during a hockey tournament.
Photo: president.gov.by

The international Christmas tournament for the the prize of Alyaksandr Lukashenka will not take place in 2021, the Ice Hockey Federation of Belarus reports.

The official reason for the cancellation of the tournament is the coronavirus pandemic.

“Given the age of the participants in the Christmas tournament, the impossibility of holding training camps for teams in most of the participating countries and the recommendations of the World Health Organization to reduce the risk of the spread of viral infections, it was decided to cancel it,” the message says.

The international Christmas tournament for the the prize of Alyaksandr Lukashenka has been held in Minsk annually since 2005. The team of the Belarusian leader won it 13 times: in 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020. The Russians took the first places three times – in 2007, 2011 and 2015.

In March 2020, Alyaksandr Lukashenka reacted skeptically to the caronavirus pandemic, stating that the hockey rink was free of viruses.

“There are no viruses here! You [correspondent. – ed. Belsat.eu] haven’t noticed any flying around, have you? I can’t see any either,” he said.

belsat.eu

 

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