“I have no doubt that the 2016 World Ice Hockey Championship in Russia will be held to the highest standard. Russians love ice hockey – roughly half a million people play ice hockey in Russia, and there are millions of hockey fans, without exaggeration.”
“Russia deserves to host this championship not just to commemorate our glorious achievements, and not just because we have not been awarded this honour in decades, but because of our great desire to stage a great event and promote the ideas of sportsmanship, athletism and fair play.”
“We know you’re a serious sports fan. The whole world knows about your extensive support for sports,” Mr Fasel said to Prime Minister Putin.