Dmitry Medvedev speaks at the opening ceremony of the championship.
Dmitry Medvedev’s address:
Good evening, Moscow. Good evening, guests and Mr Fasel.
Today is a great occasion, a special day for all hockey fans. Hockey is the most spectacular and captivating game.
We are opening the 80th Ice Hockey World Championships. It is a special honour for us to host it in Moscow and St Petersburg in the year when Russian hockey also celebrates its 70th anniversary. People all over the world are fond of hockey, and in Russia it is simply a national sport.
We tried to do our best for this championship to be a success, to create good conditions both for the players and their fans. Moscow has a new ice palace, and the ice palace in St Petersburg was repaired. It will host competitions after the World Championships. Young players will have training sessions there. Many of them will become champions and world stars in the future.
And what will we be doing? We will root for our national team! But, of course, we will also support all other teams since Russians appreciate honest and fair play, personal skill and team spirit. No matter who wins, it is important for us to make sure that sport is the winner and that millions of fans feel the spirit of a sport competition.
I would like to wish all those who will take the ice in Moscow and St Petersburg good luck, energy, the will to win, and, of course, respect for their rivals. I am sure you will put on a great show. I hope our guests will have wonderful memories of their stay in our country.
Let the 2016 Ice Hockey World Championships begin!