18:07 Ice hockey team from Belarus not to take part in Russian league

A long-debated decision to send an ice hockey team from Belarus to play in the stronger Russian league has not been supported on Monday by the Belarusian president, according to the government's news agency Belta. During the meeting at the office of the president, different standpoints were voiced regarding this issue.

Wrapping up the discussion, Alexander Lukashenka stressed that more effort and resources should be thrown into resolving the problems existing in the Belarusian hockey and imrpoving the level of domestic players and coaches.

The head of the state urged the coaches to keep their eyes open to the existing problems and to focus on a better level of training of young Belarusian players, reports BELTA.