Dear friends,

On behalf of the Goverment of Moscow and on my own I sincerely welcome the organizers, the participants and the spectators of the World Bandy Championship!

This is a major and spectacular event in the busy sport calendar of the Russian capital, which each year strengthen its international reputation. The world strongest teams from Russia, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Kazakhstan, and the USA will compete for the prestigious trophy under the roof of the marvelous ice rink in Krylatskoe.

We are in for a great sport festival featuring the best bandy players, who, by thier bright and captivating performances, attract new spectators to the stands and new fans to ever growing army of followers of this dynamic game.

Russian hockey is one of the most popular winter sports in Moscow and in Russia. The Moscow goverment will continue to extend all possible efforts to futher promote it and to augment the winning traditions of the Russian sport.

I'm convinced that the upcoming World Championship will be held on traditionally high level of organization and will fully demonstrate the beauty and the other undeniable merits of bandy..

I wish you, my dear friends, good health, good luck, positive emotions and great success in life and in sport!

Yuri Luzhkov
Mayor of Moscow

Dear friends, dear sport fans

On behalf of the Ministry for Sport, Tourism and Youth Policy of the Russian Federation I welcome the participants, the guests and the organizers of the XXX Bandy World Championship.

Lightning speed, cunning, endurance and audience appeal - the combination of these qualities distinguishes bandy from all other sport disciplines.

Every year bandy gets more and more popular in Russia. Numerous fans fill venues to capacity, unified in their support of their favorite teams.

I am genuinely happy that the Federation of International Bandy has choosen Moscow for the jubilee XXX Bandy World Championship. Over the course of a week world leading national teams will compete for the medals of the Champinship at the marvelous indoor ice rink "Krylatskoe".

I'm certain thet the Russian team, while playing at home, will do its best to recapture the title of the world strongest team.

I wish the participants of the XXX Bandy World Championship willpower, sport fervor and well deserved success and the fans - spectacular bettles on the ice!

I wish you happiness, health and new victories!

Vitaly Mutko
Minister for sport, tourism and youth policy of the Russian Federation

Dear Muscovites, guests and participants of the Championship!

World Championship in Moscow is a milesone both for our sport discipline and for the capital of Russia! The dynamic of our sport's development speaks of its growing popularity, which is highlighted further by accedence of new members to the international federation. Recently, the Chinese federation has filed the application to join. The official ceremony will be held at the FIB congress, which will took place during World Championship in Moscow.

Bandy has strong Olympic potential and the upcoming World Championship will once again prove that this engaging and spectacular sport deserves to be a part of Winter Games.

The organization of such an important competition in Moscow again was made possible by the support of its Mayor Yuri Mikhailovich Luzhkov. The organizers have done their best to ensure that the tournament will be a true festival, which will strengthen all positive tendensies in the development of our sport.

I would like to extend my most sincere gratitude to the national federations, which actively develop bandy in their countries, without whom organising such a large-scale event would nave been impossible.

I thank all athletes and coaches for theit loyalty to our sport, as well as veterans, whose role in bridging together different generations and preserving traditions of the game is indisputable.

World Championship will undoubtedly be a huge step forward for bandy, which would very much like to join the glorious Olympic family.

Boris Skrynnik
President of the Federation of International Bandy