365 days – only one year remains until the start of the 2011 IIHF World Championship. The championship – which is set to take place between April 29th and May 15th is to feature 16 of the world’s best teams and will be the largest sporting event ever held in the history of the country.

In both venues – Bratislava and Košice – original hockey timers which are to count down the days remaining untill the 2011 IIHF WM kicks off were lit up to ceremoniously mark the occasion on Thursday 29th April. “The timers are situated in the centre of the towns to remind locals and tourists how many days remain until the championship commences” stated 2011 IIHF WM general director Igor Nemeček. In Bratislava the hockey timer was placed near the Carlton hotel on hviezdoslav square, and in Košice tourists have the opportunity of having their photographs taken alongside the timer on the main street.

The preparation work on both arenas set to host the world championship – the Ondrej Nepel arena in Bratislava and the Ladislav Trojak arena in Košice is going according to plan. “The main Bratislava hall should be finished by December of this year and the training rink by January’ added Nemeček. In Košice the training hall is currently being constructed and is set to be completed in February 2011. “For the first time in the championship’s history players in both match venues will have the luxury of similar match and training halls under one roof”, Nemeček emphasised.

The 2011 IIHF World Championship Organizing Committee members are due to inspect the 2010 IIHF World Championship in Köln and Mannheim in Germany in May. “In addition to inspecting the facilities and the running of the championship we will also be negotiating with International Hockey federation representatives and TV broadcasters for the first time after the championship – on the basis of which a game plan should emerge” added Nemeček.

The definitive Slovak hockey game plan will be known a little later, following approval by the participating parties and teams.

Ticket sales are due to start in autum of this year.

The quest for volunteers continues. “ we currently have 850 registered individuals who have expressed an interest in participating in the championship” said Michaela Grendelová, Director for Communication. “Other volunteers may still register via the official championship website": 2011.iihfworlds.com