Lukashenka Suffers Epic Fail With 'Gift' For Brazil

The present is unlikely to be appreciated there.

The press service of the Foreign Ministry of Belarus reported that Lukashenka had given Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva a "memorable gift" from himself. The gift is a hockey jumper of Lukashenka's amateur team. Given the specifics of this country, the choice of presentation is at least surprising, writes nashaniva.com.

Ice hockey is a sport that not only in Brazil, but also in the whole of South America has no popularity and is actually not developing. Formally, the national sports federation of this country was recognised by the IIHF back in 1984, but since then Brazilians have never attempted to enter the international arena in earnest. They played their first game only in 2014 against Mexico, losing 0:16.

There are five divisions of different levels in the modern structure of hockey world championships. This year, the teams of such "hockey" countries as Kuwait, Mongolia, Indonesia and the Philippines played in the lowest, IV. But Brazilians, as well as other South Americans, do not appear even there - the sport is so unpopular in their country.

By the way, Russia, which was suspended from international competitions together with Belarus, wants to organise a hockey tournament as an alternative within the BRICS organisation, which includes, apart from Russia, Brazil, India, China and the Republic of South Africa. The above map can be used to visualise the level of this tournament, if it succeeds in becoming a reality.