A set of press conferences abroad started in Prague. Hungary, Germany, Finnland and Switzerland will come up next.

As only 178 days are remaining till the beginning of 2011 IIHF World Championship, the Organizing Committee started an European promotional tour. It was a very symbolic start which took part in the country close to Slovakia by history connection, but also a country of reigning World Champions – Czech Republic. „We are sure that the national team of the Czech Republic will be one of the championship´s favourites again and a number of fans will support the team on site. We will try to prepare the ideal conditions for all of them,“ 2011 IIHF World Championship OC Chairman Igor Nemeček said at the press conference taking part in Prague.

The biggest ever sporting event in independent Slovak republic will take part in Bratislava and Košice from April 29th untill May 15th, 2011. „The Organizing Committee works very hard with only one aim –  to prepare the perfect championship for the players, media representatives and fans,“ Igor Nemeček added.

Czech Republic national team will play its preliminary round games in Bratislava. Completely reconstructed Orange Arena will offer them ideal conditions with main playing arena and two practice arenas (although one of them will be used as the media centre during 2011 IIHF WM). „All the reconstruction works are going according the time schedule so we are satisfied,“  Mr. Nemeček said. The reconstruction should be finished by the end of 2010.

In Košice´s Steel Arena most of the construction works are taking place at the new practice arena building which should be finished by the end of this year.

2011 IIHF World Championship in Slovakia will offer a real luxury for the players. „For the first time in the history of IIHF World Championship, the main arena and the practice arena will be in one complex in both host cities so the teams will not lose even a minute by any inconvenience caused by travelling for practice,“  Mr. Nemeček said.

A month after the ticket sales commenced for the 2011 IIHF WM, one-third of all available tickets have already been sold. "It excites us that there is such great interest in tickets, especially with half a year left to the championship," said Igor Nemeček.

Tickets can be purchased at: championship website and www.ticketportal.sk (www.ticketportal.cz) outlets around Slovakia and in selected Ticketprotal outlets in the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Poland and later through partners in Russia, Austria, Slovenia, Belarus and Switzerland.