The main sports festival of the beginning of the year is gaining momentum right now. The grand opening of the 15th Christmas International Tournament of hockey amateurs has been opened.
Traditionally, the first January days are held in our country under the sign of a healthy lifestyle and vivid competitions. Alexander Lukashenko warmly welcomed all the participants of the Christmas tournament and congratulated them on the start of the new sports year. Like the last few years, Chizhovka Arena hosts the competition. This time, twelve teams will fight for the coveted winner’s cup, including the most titled squad - the team of the President of Belarus. Most of the guests are familiar to our viewers. These are national teams of Germany, China, the United Arab Emirates, Russia, Slovakia, Finland, the Czech Republic and Switzerland. A joint team of the Balkan states, consisting of nine countries, will come on the ice. Participants from Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia gathered the Baltic national team, and this is one of the best examples of sports diplomacy. The team of the President of Belarus is fighting with the team of the International Ice Hockey Federation. Before the match a solemn opening ceremony of the tournament took place.
The Presidential team became the winner of the Christmas tournament trophy 11 times.
Hockey players from Slovakia started the tournament with a victory over Switzerland. The United Arab Emirates team was stronger than the Balkans.












