Russia awarded hosting rights to 2007 IIHF World Championship
The International Ice Hockey Federation's Congress voted today on the allocation of the 2007 IIHF World Championship. Russia won the hosting rights against strong bids from Sweden and Germany. Below are the events that led up to the final vote.
11:00: The Congress has reconvened after the morning session in Hersonissos on the north coast of the historical island of Crete, Greece. The meetings are in the Zeus Room of the Crete Maris Hotel where the Mediterranean Sea is visible.
11:01: Hockey Canada President Bob Nicholson announces that Canada has withdrawn its bid to host the 2007 IIHF World Championship. Canada will re-apply to host the 2008 World Championship, which will fall on the IIHF's 100-year anniversary. Canada will host the 2006 IIHF U20 World Championship after Switzerland pulled its application to host the tournament.
11:07: Germany begins its presentation to the Congress to host the 2007 IIHF World Championship. The presentation is conducted by the president of the German Ice Hockey Association, Hans-Ulrich Esken and the General Secretary Franz Reinndl.
11:15: Germany is presenting five candidate cities to host the 2007 World Championship: Cologne (arena size 18,500), Manhheim (arena size 14,000), Hamburg (arena size 14,000), Hanover (arena size 12,500) and Berlin (arena size 18,000). If Germany is named as the 2007 host, they will choose two of the five cities to host the World Championship.
11:25: Germany concludes its presentation.
11:26: Russia begins its presentation to the Congress to host the 2007 IIHF World Championship. The presentation is conducted by the Vice Mayor of the City of Moscow. The bid includes the cities of St. Petersburg and Moscow. Russia will choose one of the two cities to host the World Championship if it is awarded hosting rights. If Russia chooses St. Petersburg to act as the host city, the World Championship will be in the same arena (size 12,500) as the 2000 IIHF World Championship. If Russia decides on Moscow, a new arena will be built for the 2007 World Championship (arena size 15,000). The last time Moscow hosted a World Championship was in 1986.
11:45: The Vice President of the Russian Ice Hockey Association and former Soviet hockey great Boris Mayorov concludes the Russian bid.
11:46: Sweden begins its presentation to the Congress to host the 2007 IIHF World Championship. The presentation is made by the Chairman of the Swedish Ice Hockey Association Kjell Nilsson and General Secretary Michael Englund. Sweden is presenting Stockholm as the sole host city of the 2007 World Championship. The tournament would be held in Globe Arena (arena size 13,800) and Hovet Arena (arena size 10,000). The two arenas are 20 meters apart and are connected by a bridge. Hovet Arena hosted the IIHF World Championship in 1969 and 1970 while Globe Arena hosted the tournament in 1989 and 1995.
11:54: Sweden concludes its presentation.
11:55: IIHF President Rene Fasel begins the secret ballot voting. Meanwhile, it was announced that Canada has named Vancouver as a city that will bid to host the 2006 IIHF World U20 Championship. Vancouver was recently named the host of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.
12:05: Out of 63 IIHF member associations, 40 will take part in the voting to determine the host of the 2007 IIHF World Championship. The nations will cast a total of 88 votes (some nations have more than one vote). A simple majority will win the vote, meaning that a country must have at least 45 votes to win the hosting rights. If none of the three applicants receive 45 votes in the first round, then the country with the fewest votes will be eliminated and a second round of voting will commence.
12:15: Russia wins the 2007 IIHF World Championship allocation with a convincing 61 votes. Germany finished with 16 votes and Sweden had 11 votes. The President of the Russian Ice Hockey Association Alexander Steblin thanks the Congress and Germany and Sweden offer Russia their congratulations.
Quelle: http://www.iihf.com/news/iihfpr5503.htm
Schade
Mäh kann's je egal sinn, wie däh driwwer dengged,
ferleichde schimbed au disser un jener,
um wam'mäh einer sonsd was schengged:
Ich benn um bliewe Kasseläner!