Decision on Belarus World Hockey Championship 'Very Complicated'

(ATR) A final decision on the status of Belarus co-hosting the 2021 Ice Hockey World Championship remains on hold for the moment.

One day after IOC president Thomas Bach announced sanctions against Alexander Lukashenko and the Belarusian NOC for athletes’ rights violations and other transgressions, International Ice Hockey Federation presidentRené Fasel and secretary general Horst Lichtner tested positive for Covid-19 prior to a trip on Dec. 8 to meet with the embattled Belarusian president.

Their scheduled meeting with Lukashenko has been postponed until further notice, putting on hold discussions about the 2021 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship which the Belarusian capital Minsk is slated to co-host with Riga, Latvia.

Fasel and the IIHF released a statement on Tuesday revealing the diagnosis and saying they had planned "to discuss with the Belarus president the safety issues that are affecting preparations for the tournament, the allegations surrounding Belarus Ice Hockey Association President Dmitry Baskov [who has been linked to the death of a protester], the current COVID-19 situation in the country, and what steps are being taken to ensure that the tournament can be held safely in cooperation with the co-hosts Latvia."

The veteran Swiss hockey federation boss also informed that IIHF staff members have been working remotely and he does not expect that there will be further cases. Both he and Lichtner remain in quarantine over the next 10 days.

In addition to the Lukashenko meeting, Fasel said a virtual meeting with the national federations on Friday will also need to be rescheduled for a later date.

Bach, addressing a question on Monday about calls for Belarus to be stripped of the tournament considering violations by Belarusian NOC leaders of the Olympic Charter, said the decision belongs to the IIHF, though he also noted "we are expecting this result."

The athlete-centric Belarusian Sports Solidarity Foundation and other groups have demanded that the hockey tournament not be carried out in Belarus under Lukashenko’s regime.

Rumors have swirled that Russia could be a viable replacement candidate for Belarus considering the ongoing political turmoil in the country. Fasel remains on close terms with Russian Ice Hockey Federation president and legendary goaltender, Vladislav Tretiak.

However, a source tells Around the Rings that "all possibilities are being considered" and that it is a "very complicated" situation. Also, that various "countries and cities, one location, two locations" are all on the table and that a "bubble arrangement" is a strong possibility.

"It is such a basket full of surprises to deal with – insurance, Covid, with or without fans," ATR is told.

National federations,concerned over potential loss of government funding and sponsors,have told IIHF leaders that priority number one remains ensuring that a world championship happens.

The IIHF showcase ice hockey tournament is scheduled for Minsk and Riga, May 21 – June 6, 2021.

Russia is scheduled to host the 2023 edition of the world championship with all contests to be held in St. Petersburg, although it remains in question pending the Court of Arbitration for Sport verdict on the country’s appeal of a four-year ban from international sport due to state-sanctioned doping.

Written and reported by Brian Pinelli

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