An International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) inspection group has paid a visit to Bratislava. On the 8th of December held negotiations with 2011 IIHF World Championship Organizing committee representatives headed by OC Chairman in Slovakia Igor Nemecek along with the heads of various IIHF section chiefs.

"We visited both arenas and witnessed the reconstruction progress. We also got to see the accommodation. We are not worried at all about deadlines not being met. We are permanently in contact with the organizing committee and everything is going according to plan,” announced IIHF deputy general director and event director Hannes Ederer. 

IIHF Sports director Dave Fitzpatrick was also satisfied: “The Bratislava arena will be beautiful. Such large-scale venues are valuable assets for events such as world championships.”

Before the concluding negotiations Igor Nemecek and the IIHF representatives revealed other conclusions from the inspection visit. “The last time there was such a large scale inspection was in August. The international federation representatives got to see the Bratislava hall approximately 80% finished with the lights on on Wednesday. Everybody was pleasantly surprised. I’m very happy that – having only discussed the comfort that will be available for all participants – we have now had the chance to see it with our own eyes. Slovakia will be fully prepared for the world Championship.” stated Nemecek.

Bratislava LOC Chairman Lubomír Lenár commented on the reconstruction work on the Ondrej Nepela winter stadium: “Everything is within the norms, work is continuing uninterrupted. The seating in the main hall has been mounted, as have the barriers and the Plexiglas. The bench installation is being prepared and work is continuing in the VIP areas. The cooling conduits are being fitted in one of the training halls, the concrete surface has been laid in the other hall, awaiting cooling conduits.  The hall is to be definitively handed over to us on the 10th of April after which only minor modifications will be required for the World Championship", added Lenár.

The IIHF group inspected the Košice Steel arena on Tuesday. "The Košice hall is more or less prepared for the World Championship.  The IIHF representatives were very satisfied.  We dealt with room designation and took a look at the rooms for volunteers." added  – Košice LOC Chairman Petr Handl.