Russia stripped of right to host World Hockey Championship

The International Ice Hockey Federation announces the withdrawal of hosting the 2023 World Championships from Russia, under the pretext of the safety of the participants in the tournament.

• Russia stripped of right to host World Hockey Championship

The International Ice Hockey Federation announced, on Tuesday, that Russia will be stripped of the right to host the World Hockey Championship in 2023.

The Hockey Federation said that the decision to move the tournament came “in the first place” in the interest of the safety of all participants, in light of the Russian special operation in Ukraine.

“The council has expressed great concerns regarding the safety and freedom of movement of players and officials in Russia,” he added.

The 2023 Ice Hockey World Championships was supposed to be held in St. Petersburg between May 5 and 21, 2023, but the International Federation stripped Russia of the right to host, as well as deprived it of the right to host the World Junior Championships, which was scheduled for next year.

The federation indicated that it will make its decision regarding the hosting country before the end of this year.

Russia and Belarus will not be allowed to participate in the tournament due to the Russian military operation in Ukraine.