The Czechs were supposed to play the next World Hockey Championship in Belarus, but in the end it will not happen due to the political situation in the country. The organizers are to share Moscow with Riga, Latvia.
The information was brought by the Canadian magazine The Hockey News,
The agreement is to be reached early next week, when the long-time IIHF president René Fasel and the head of Russian hockey Vladislav Tretyak should meet in Moscow. Russia last hosted the World Cup in 2016. Then it wasn’t until 2023 that it was next.
If Minsk really loses its organization, it’s because of the current controversies.
Alexander Lukashenko, described as “the last dictator in Europe”, again defended his presidential term in August, but according to the opposition, he helped himself to fraud. Therefore, massive protests erupted in the country, which the authoritarian regime still violently suppresses. Many countries, including the Czech Republic, do not recognize Lukashenko as the leader of Belarus.
Another problem in Minsk is the spread of coronavirus. The state of about ten million reports only about a thousand infected, but based on reports from independent journalists, it is believed that the numbers do not correspond to reality.
And to make matters worse, Belarusian hockey chief Dmitry Baskov is suspected of involvement in the murder of an opposition activist.
Latvian Prime Minister Krišjánis Kariňš said some time ago that he could not imagine holding a championship with Belarus. “This is the first time that the government of the host state has expressed its reluctance to continue organizing a tournament with another country for political reasons,” Fasel said.
He reiterated that the IIHF, as a sports federation, is not involved in politics and cannot move championships because of it. But he added: “We also need to make sure that each host country can ensure the safety and health of players, officials and spectators.”
Which in Belarus, if the massive protests continue, will be difficult.
Increasing resistance
Opposition to one of the existing organizers is growing, for example in Sweden. Legends Peter Forsberg and Börje Salming and national team coach Johan Garpenlöv expressed the opinion that the national team should not go anywhere.
Swedish hockey chief Anders Larsson took a similar view. “The current situation is extremely worrying. Whether it is the questions surrounding the pandemic or possible security problems,” he told SVT Sport. “So it would not be possible to send the national team at the moment. However, there are six months left until the championship, so we will see how it develops.”
The Czech hockey boss Tomáš Král is also skeptical about the venue of the tournament. “If it is said that the championship will take place, it does not mean that all countries will come there. We do not know what it will look like there. If it is shot on the streets, I really do not know if I would send players to Belarus. Probably not,” he said. diary Sport.
According to Belarusian Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko, calls for a boycott are unfounded. “We are ready to ensure the safety of fans and players,” he stressed.
However, the development of events does not record Minsk.
Latvia could theoretically hold the tournament itself, as in 2006, but according to Russian media, it does not have a sufficient second arena and would need another five million dollars (about 111 million crowns), which it does not have.
The May Adult World Championships is one of the few tournaments this year that the IIHF has not yet canceled due to a pandemic. The elite championship of the twenties, eighteen and women is also to be played. But that’s all.
Will the men’s championship start on May 21, as planned? And will the Czechs go to Belarus or do they land in Russia?
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