Tuesday, February 2 2010, 09 PM ← →

VLADIVOSTOK, February 2, vladivostoktimes.com The Great Britain and China joined the World Bandy Federation. Besides, the new schedule of the world championship tournaments was fixed.

Early it was announced that China would join the World Bandy Federation. But the fact that Great Britain became its member surprised everybody. So the Federation includes 27 members.

The Sport Express Newspaper reports that since 2012 the world championships will be arranged in three groups not in two as it used to be.

It was decided that Kazan is to host the world bandy championship in 2011.Belorussia and Kazakhstan have filed the applications to host the world championship in 2012. We should remind you that recently the sport center “Minsk-Arena” including the palace of ice sport and skating stadium was put into service. It is quite possible to hold the Russian hockey tournaments at this multitasking complex of sports facilities. As for Kazakhstan, the new stadium with the artificial ice cover is to be built here till the Winter Asia Games in 2011; the agenda of the games includes bandy along with other winter sports.          

Holland filed the application to host the world bandy championship in 2013 and Norway in 2014. The final decision where to play the tournaments will be made in autumn at the World Bandy Federation regular congress.