The Goal of the Organizing Committee Chairman is to Prepare a Championship That People Will Enjoy

Ondrej Buday, Chairman of the Organizing Committee for the U20 Men's and Women's Ball Hockey World Championships, kindly answered a dozen questions and gave us some insight into the preparations for this major ball hockey event, which will take place July 2–6, 2025, in Poprad, Slovakia.

At what stage are the preparations for the World Championship currently?
Since we’re just a few days away from the championship, I would say we’re in the final stages, and there's a bit of nervousness about how everything will turn out. We are ready and are now just fine-tuning accommodation for the participants and their transportation from nearby airports to Poprad.
We are also waiting for the playing surface, which will arrive two days before the championships from Hradec Králové, where the U16 and U23 World Championships are being held.

So is everything ready and secured for the championship, or are there still some organizational matters to finalize?
Organizationally, yes — we’re just wrapping up and fine-tuning the final details.

Last year, you were the main organizer of the U16 and U18 World Championships in Žilina. Can you compare the preparations for the championships in Žilina and Poprad?
They are similar tournaments in terms of the number of participants and categories. A lot of things are alike. I learned a lot in Žilina, so we managed to take care of the most critical matters right at the start very quickly.
Poprad is a bit more complicated in the sense that games will be played in two different venues. We have to manage transportation, which is more complex due to the reconstruction of a railway bridge that has cut off the area near the ice rink from the city center.
However, we have support from the City of Poprad, which organized a meeting for us with all the relevant authorities (municipal police, traffic police, national police, and the city’s public transport company). Thanks to their cooperation, I believe everything will go smoothly.

Have any new organizational responsibilities been added in Poprad compared to Žilina?
In terms of the ISBHF's organizational requirements, nothing has changed in the past year — the setup is the same.

Do you think Poprad is a good choice for hosting the World Championships?
Currently, Eastern Slovakia is experiencing a ball hockey boom. Several new clubs have been founded here, and there's a lot of interest in the sport in this region. I believe people will come out and support the championship.
So yes, I think this region definitely deserves to host a World Championship.

How has your cooperation been with the City of Poprad and the Prešov Self-Governing Region?
Anyone in Slovakia who organizes sports events or runs a sports club knows that without the support of local governments and regions, it’s very difficult.
In Poprad, the Slovak Ball Hockey Union is organizing the U20 Men’s and Women’s Ball Hockey World Championships from July 2 to July 6, 2025. The tournament will be played at two venues — the Poprad Ice Rink and the Secondary Sports School in Poprad.
The core of the tournament — 23 matches across all playing days — will take place on the main rink of the Poprad Ice Stadium, which is owned by the City of Poprad. The city has provided the venue free of charge.
Two match days (5 games) will be played at the Secondary Sports School in Poprad, managed by the Prešov Self-Governing Region, which has also provided its hockey facility and facilities for our women’s national team free of charge.
For us, both the City of Poprad and the Prešov Region are strategic partners for this event. Without their support, we wouldn’t be able to organize something of this scale. We thank them both and believe that this championship will be a successful event that brings visibility to Poprad, the Tatra region, and Slovakia.

Are you working with members of the local club Poprad Pirates on organizing the event?
We’ve been cooperating with the local club from the very beginning when the idea of hosting the championship in Poprad was born. Representatives of the local club handled many matters early on, and these were gradually refined over time.
Members of the organizing committee also include members of the Poprad ball hockey club: Daniel Lipár, Daniel Barilla, and Štefan Rybár. Around 20 volunteers from the home club will help during the championship.

Do you have any information on ticket sales for the matches?
Yes, we have detailed ticket sales data, as they are sold through Ticketportal (https://www.ticketportal.sk/event/ISBHF-World-U20-Mens-Womens-World-Junior-Ball-Hockey-Championships-Poprad-Slovakia), and we receive daily sales reports.
Ticket sales began in April, and every day some passes have been sold — mainly to international spectators, based on how countries have been arranging accommodation for the championship.
Currently, there isn’t much interest in single-day tickets. From our experience with the Žilina championship, local fans typically buy their tickets the day before or during the event.

Which match has generated the most interest among fans, based on ticket sales?
So far, mostly tournament passes are being sold, so it’s hard to judge interest in specific matches. At this point, spectators are interested in the whole tournament — they’re making a trip out of it, including visiting our beautiful mountains.

Is accreditation required for journalists?
Yes, accreditation is required for journalists. They can apply by emailing: hokejbal@hokejbal.sk.

Will there be any side events for fans during the championship?
Yes, on the first day of the tournament, there will be a ball hockey game for the youngest players (under 10 years old) at the ice rink — it will be a fun experience for them.
There will also be a small rink in front of the stadium for kids to try ball hockey and have fun. A bouncy castle will be available as well.

What is the main goal of the head organizer 12 days before the World Championships?
From the beginning, the main goal was to prepare a championship that people will enjoy, that will run smoothly, and that will attract as many spectators as possible.
Of course, the financial side is also important. We hope to generate a profit that we can reinvest into the development and promotion of ball hockey.