Free transport, Internet access for reporters during hockey championship

Free Internet access and public transport passage will be available to accredited reporters during the ice hockey world championship in Minsk, BelTA learned from Piotr Ryabukhin, manager of the directorate in charge of hosting the 2014 IIHF world championship.

He also said that mass media demonstrate a strong interest in the forthcoming ice hockey world championship, with over 1,000 applications for accreditation submitted. However, in accordance with the quotas set by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) only 300 writing reporters and 100 photo reporters will be accredited. The numbers match the number of seats in mass media lounges of the Minsk Arena and the Chizhovka Arena. Apart from that, 68 workstations for TV commentators will be arranged. About 800 auxiliary technical personnel will be employed for television broadcasts.

The majority of the reporters are expected to stay at the Belarus Hotel. Special buses will shuttle them to both ice arenas and back. Wireless Internet access for accredited reporters will be free. Upon receiving personal accreditation they will be granted a special card with a password.

Wired Internet access will cost about €100 for the duration of the tournament. Fans will be able to buy Internet access cards in retail throughout the city and in fan zones of the two arenas. Piotr Ryabukhin underlined the prices will be affordable, much lower than the prices at previous ice hockey world championships.