Poland wants Slovakia to organise the entire ice hockey tournament for men and women alike at the 2022 Winter Olympic Games, including semi-finals and finals, Interior Minister Robert Kaliňák said during in parliament on Thursday, February 7. Poland and Slovakia are currently planning a joint bid to host the games.
Kaliňák, who was filling in for Prime Minister Robert Fico, was asked by Smer MP Marián Kery for his opinion on the joint bid and the conditions under which the candidacy would be feasible. According to Kaliňák, the ice hockey competition would probably be held in Poprad and Liptovský Mikuláš (Prešov and Žilina regions, respectively). "However, it'll be necessary to launch major reconstructions of the local stadiums or build new ones," he said, as quoted by the TASR newswire. Kaliňák described the candidacy positively. With the games officially based in Krakow, the ratio of Slovak-Polish costs would be 2:8 or 3:7. Aside from the ice hockey, Slovakia could also host alpine and acrobatic skiing and build a portion of the Olympic village for 1,700-1,800 athletes.
Overall costs are estimated to be in the neighbourhood of €2 billion. "If our [joint] bid meets with success, it would be a great benefit to Slovakia," claimed Kaliňák.
Source: TASR
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
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