Region: Hockey finals under way in Slovakia

By Michaela Terenzani-Stanková

For The Slovak Spectator

Slovakia has officially transformed itself into the "Hockey Republic" according to the official advertising campaign now under way to promote the ongoing Ice Hockey World Championship.

As hockey is perhaps the country's most popular sport, most Slovaks turn into enthusiastic fans each spring, cheering on their national team at the championship. This year, however, the excitement is at a fever pitch as the championship takes place in Slovakia for the first time. The first face-off was April 29, and the competition runs through May 15 at arenas in Bratislava and Košice.

In the capital city, one such arena, now called the Bratislava Orange Arena, completed a major reconstruction just weeks before the puck dropped. Bratislava Mayor Milan Ftáčnik symbolically handed over the keys to the stadium, which now accommodates 7,200 fans, to the organizers of the championship April 11, and the final inspection papers authorizing use of the stadium were signed by the local authorities just days before the tournament began.

"When we started the reconstruction of the arena two years ago, there were many voices of doubt," said Igor Nemeček, head of the tournament's organizing committee, referring to reports from the beginning that the reconstruction was running over budget. Following the change in government in 2010, there were questions about whether the state would cover the cost overruns.

Now finished, the stadium comprises three rinks and an icemaker that organizers say is the largest in Europe. The maintenance manager of the stadium, Jozef Brezina, told the daily Sme that there is a small talisman - a coin - under the ice of the main rink where the Slovak team will play all their matches and where the tournament final will be held.

In addition to the renovated stadium, Slovaks are also ramping up security measures. While visiting the stadium recently, Interior Minister Daniel Lipšic told media that about 200 police officers have passed specialized training for the event. Around 650 police officers and 100 police vehicles from other regions of Slovakia will team up with the Bratislava and Košice forces during the championship.

Police Corps President Jaroslav Spišiak said there will be about 700 police officers on duty in Bratislava every day, and announced that Interpol and Europol had also responded to his invitation and will have officers present in the country.

"The staff of these agencies will have all their databases with them," Spišiak said, stressing that this will make it easier to track unwanted persons who might seek to cause trouble at the event. "We can identify every person who might seem dangerous right at their seat."

Despite these added measures, criticism has mounted that foreign fans coming to Bratislava and Košice might be less than impressed by the conditions in the cities. Some minor transport improvements in Bratislava, which the city said cost about 200,000 euros, were still in the works as the tournament got under way. These included reconstruction of tram tracks near the main train station and reconstruction of the underground pedestrian tunnel at Trnavské Mýto, near Bratislava Orange Arena.

The Bratislava City Council, in cooperation with the city's five municipal districts, volunteers and students from local schools, has also initiated a volunteer effort to spruce up many public areas in the city.

In Košice, the city is preparing for the influx of tourists with added transport and parking options, additional security measures and more information service points. Additional cultural activities will also be organized in the city.

Mayor Richard Raši said the championship is a kind of dress rehearsal for the city's forthcoming role as a European Capital of Culture in 2013.

"We have a keen interest in making everything work well so that the championship also becomes the best invitation for the events that will be a part of the Košice-European Capital of Culture 2013 project," Raši said.

Michaela Terenzani-Stanková can be reached at news@praguepost.com