Cabinet minister asks Lipmans to explain delay in selecting investor for construction of hockey arena
Minister of Education and Science Karlis Greiskalns has sent a letter to Latvian Ice Hockey Federation (LHF) President Kirovs Lipmans, asking why the federation^apostrofs;s board has still not adopted a decision and why launching construction of the multi-functional ice hockey arena in Riga is being hampered.
Minister of Education and Science Karlis Greiskalns has sent a letter to Latvian Ice Hockey Federation (LHF) President Kirovs Lipmans, asking why the federation's board has still not adopted a decision and why launching construction of the multi-functional ice hockey arena in Riga is being hampered.
As reported, the LHF board decided during its Monday meeting to postpone selecting an investor for construction of the arena in Riga until August 31. Lipmans told LETA that the decision was made because of the unsettled land site matter. The Riga City Council is to decide on designating a location for construction of the arena only on August 20.
The minister believes that such a statement is unjustified because both Riga Mayor Gundars Bojars and his deputy Sergejs Dolgopolovs have several times confirmed to the world championship organizing committee that the Riga City Council has reserved several land plots for construction of the arena.
Greiskalns fears that the LHF board's decision to prolong the term for selecting an investor for the arena creates a negative image of Latvia as host of the 2006 world championship, and may eventually lead to Latvia losing the chance to hold it.
Whereas Lipmans has said that postponing the decision will not affect Latvia's options for organizing the championship because the next meeting of the International Ice Hockey Federation's leaders will be held in September, and LHF has said that the investor for the construction of the arena will be selected in August.
Lipmans wasadvised not to make haste in adopting the final decision during his visit in Zurich, where he met with the International Ice Hockey Federation's representatives and vice president Jan-Ake Edvinsson.
According to Lipmans, Edvinsson commended LHF's work on organizing the 2006 world championship. He, however, also commented on negative tendencies created by politicizing the matter by the press.
As reported, companies "SCI Stadium Consultants International Inc.", "IMS Studio 6", "Metala buvju sistemas" and "Multihalle" are the bidders for construction of the ice hockey arena.
Edvinsson has been acquainted with all four projects, and said they all comply with the set requirements.
LETA LETA
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As reported, the LHF board decided during its Monday meeting to postpone selecting an investor for construction of the arena in Riga until August 31. Lipmans told LETA that the decision was made because of the unsettled land site matter. The Riga City Council is to decide on designating a location for construction of the arena only on August 20.
The minister believes that such a statement is unjustified because both Riga Mayor Gundars Bojars and his deputy Sergejs Dolgopolovs have several times confirmed to the world championship organizing committee that the Riga City Council has reserved several land plots for construction of the arena.
Greiskalns fears that the LHF board's decision to prolong the term for selecting an investor for the arena creates a negative image of Latvia as host of the 2006 world championship, and may eventually lead to Latvia losing the chance to hold it.
Whereas Lipmans has said that postponing the decision will not affect Latvia's options for organizing the championship because the next meeting of the International Ice Hockey Federation's leaders will be held in September, and LHF has said that the investor for the construction of the arena will be selected in August.
Lipmans wasadvised not to make haste in adopting the final decision during his visit in Zurich, where he met with the International Ice Hockey Federation's representatives and vice president Jan-Ake Edvinsson.
According to Lipmans, Edvinsson commended LHF's work on organizing the 2006 world championship. He, however, also commented on negative tendencies created by politicizing the matter by the press.
As reported, companies "SCI Stadium Consultants International Inc.", "IMS Studio 6", "Metala buvju sistemas" and "Multihalle" are the bidders for construction of the ice hockey arena.
Edvinsson has been acquainted with all four projects, and said they all comply with the set requirements.
LETA LETA
Copyright © LETA
