The Organizing Committee underwent a two-day work meeting with IIHF representatives, Infront and partner 2011 IIHF WM organizations.

2011 IIHF World Championship Organizing Committee members participated in important pre-championship coordination meetings in both Bratislava and Košice.  International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), Infront marketing and organisational partner representatives all took part in the two day  IIHF visit.

The twenty member workgroup with Deputy IIHF General Secretary Hannes Ederer visited the Ondrej Nepela Arena in Bratislava – where IIHF representatives and partners inspected the construction work  underway.

In the subsequent negotiations individual workgroups focused on the most important questions regarding the organization of the 2011 IIHF World Championship. Issues concerning the championship preparations, organization and sports matters  were addressed in detail, as was the accommodation capacity, the accreditation system for all participants in addition to marketing matters and media facilities.

“Cooperation with the Organizing Committee is on a professional level and this meeting is of great significance in terms of  the final preparation phase,” said Hannes Ederer.

“Along with the Organizing Committee members we search out alternative solutions to individual situations and we go into minute detail, but it’s these details that are essential to the overall running of the championship. The Slovak organizers bring a lot of new ideas to the organization process and this – along with our many years of experience helps us in our efforts to prepare a wonderful hockey experience for Slovakia.”

On Thursday the IIHF workgroup headed for the second championship venue – Košice. The members were pleasantly surprised by the changes made to the Ladislav Troják Arena. A new multimedia hub had been installed in the hall, along with information strips on both the east and west sides of the stadium and a re-vamped sound system.  “All of these new elements give the hall a specific atmosphere," said Hannes Ederer in praise of the changes.

In Košice construction work on the training hall is at full steam and construction work on the parking facilities a stone’s throw away from the stadium is soon set to start. "The decision to build the parking facilities is definitely a big positive for spectators." added Ederer.

Ederer’s workgroup left Slovakia satisfied. “Of course, certain issues remain unresolved and more details are to be addressed as the championship draws closer, but we simply must acknowledge the work done by the Slovak organisers in the given phase”, concluded Ederer.