Paramedics and policemen, hundreds of security guards, organizers and volunteers—they’ll all be in charge of keeping visitors to the 2019 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship safe. Arenas will open 90 minutes before the first game of the day, and organizers are asking fans to arrive early so they have plenty of time to clear security. Fans will be able to bring flags and drums, but not whistles, megaphones, or cameras with telephoto lenses.
There will be two-level control upon entry. First, a security control, where fans must show their tickets and have them vailidated. Then, entrance into the arena through turnstiles. At the entrance to the arenas, fans will also have to pass through metal detectors similar to those used at aiports. These security controls are organized in accordance with Slovak laws.
“The requirements of the Slovak Police Force pursuant to Act no. 1/2014 relating to the organization of public sporting events was supported by the International Ice Hockey Federation,“ said 2019 IIHF WM organizing committee director Igor Nemeček. „Fan safety is of primary importance to us. We want the world championship to be a worry-free celebration of hockey.“
Additional security measures are also in place near the Ondrej Nepela Arena in Bratislava and Steel Arena in Kosice, including the practise rinks, the areas in and around hotels, and Fan Zones. Every fan coming into the arena needs a ticket, so even kids of any age need a vaild ticket. After each game the arena must be cleared, so even fans attending the next game must first leave the building. Fans who are unruly or clearly intoxicated will be prohibited from entering.
“Fans are allowed into security zones and arenas with small men’s handbags, ladies‘ purses, or small backpacks,“ said Marek Bednarik, security manager of the arena in Bratislava. „Anything that cannot be stored under the seat is forbidden. It is also forbidden to bring in food and drink. There will be bins near both arenas where fans can discard such items or check luggage for a fee. We ask that fans be patient.“
Fans can come to games with drums and flags on plastic poles with a maximum length of 1,5 m. Flags on telescopic metal poles and on wooden poles are forbidden. Posters and flags that include disparaging remarks, words insulting human rights or promoting hared and violence are strictly forbidden.
As well, whistles, pressure-sound sprays, megaphones, and vuvuzelas are forbidden. It is also forbidden to bring in narcotics, glass of any sort, perfumes, flammable substances, laser pointers, flashlights, flashing items, flashing lights, pressed gasses, weapons, explosives, or binoculars. Animals are also not allowed.
Professional photographic technology is forbidden in the stands. Additionally, making motion or sound recordings for commercial purposes is forbidden during the duration of the championship. Television companies and accredited media are the rights owners, and fan recordings cannot be published for commercial purposes.
Smoking in both arenas is strictly forbidden, but fans wishing to smoke are allowed to leave the arena for this purpose and re-enter.
Instructions and Recommendations for fans
- Arenas open 90 minutes before the first game, and after the end of previous games
- Everyone entering the arena needs a ticket, including small children
- The arena will be emptied after each game before fans are allowed in for subsequet games
- We recommend that fans arrive early, to go through security with plenty of time
- Fans must have their ID and game ticket with them at all times
- Fans must sit in the correct seat on the ticket (section, row, seat)
- Fans who are unruly or clearly intoxicated will not be allowed into arenas
Security controls
- Fans must first pass through security control before being allowed near the arenas. This includes a check for a vaild ticket in accordance with Act no. 1/2014 of the legal code (organizing public sporting events, passing through metal detectors, camera controls, possible control by touch)
- The second control is at the entrance to the arena – passing through turnstiles
- Fans are allowed free movement near the arenas, excpet for the security zones in the immeadiate proximity of the arenas
- Forbidden items (specified below) or large luggage (i.e., luggage that doens’t fit easily under the seat) are not allowed. Small handbags and knapsacks are allowed.
- Fans aren’t allowed to bring outside food and drink into the arenas
- Smoking in the arenas is forbidden, but fans are allowed to leave to smoke and then re-enter using turnstiles.
Forbidden items
Forbidden items are specified in accordance with Act no. 1/2014 of the legal code about organizing public sporting events and about changes to and completing other Acts.
Forbidden items are:
- Guns
- Explosives
- Cold weapons, poles, knuckle-duster, and similar items
- Any food and drink
- Whistles, vuvuzelas, pressure sound sprays, megaphones, and similar items
- Items with light which can harm others, notably flashlights, blinkers, flashing lights, laser pointers, and similar items
- Flags on metal or wooden poles (allowed are flags on plastic poles with a maximum length of 1,5 m)
- Any items or devices which are able to produce professional audio or audio-video recordings, broadcast or by any other means spread audio or audio-video recordings, news, desriptions, or results of the game entirely or of its part online on any other media, with exception of mobile phones, tablets, and PDA devices
- Cameras with telescopic lenses
- Any animals
- Promo and commercial materials of any kind
- written, graphic, pictorial, audio or audio-video of texts and statements, pledges, badges, slogans or symbols of groups or movements and their programs or ideologies aimed at suppressing fundamental human rights and freedoms
- written, graphic, pictorial, audio or visual audio of texts and statements, pledges, badges, slogans or symbols of groups or movements advocating, supporting or inciting hatred, violence or unjustifiably different treatment of a group of persons or an individual for their belonging to a race, the nation, nationality, colour of skin, ethnic group, origin of the family or religious beliefs