The President of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, announced that he wants the country to form a national team and take part in the World Championships. This despite the fact that the country is motly desert and there are only two arenas, one 10,000 seats, the other 1,000, both in the capital, Asghabat.
Now it could just be another example of a repressive, somewhat eccentric, dictator wanting to have a new toy for his country, but I would gladly embrace a Turkmen national team, provided they actually follow through with this whole proposal. Any reason to have more countries playing hockey is good.
Turkmen Leader Demands His Desert Nation Play Ice Hockey