Germany is seeking to host the Ice Hockey World Championship in May 2024, but Russia's participation in the tournament remains a contentious issue. A spokesperson for the German government stated that despite negotiations with the German Ice Hockey Federation and other entities, the obstacle created by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) still persists.
Challenges and Positions of Other Countries
Following the decision on October 30, several leading ice hockey countries including Finland, Sweden, and the Czech Republic announced that they would not compete in tournaments where Russia participates. Additionally, several key sponsors have threatened to withdraw their support if Russia is allowed to compete in the tournaments.
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Discussions and Hope for a Diplomatic Solution
Stefan Cornelius, spokesperson for the German government, noted to reporters in Berlin that discussions with various stakeholders have shown that Russia's participation makes hosting the championship "almost impossible both sportingly and economically." He added that the government remains hopeful of finding a diplomatic solution that would allow Germany to host the championship as planned in Gelsenkirchen, Mannheim, and Düsseldorf.
Cornelius said: "Our goal should be to hold the tournament as scheduled. However, given the sanctions that will arise after Russia's return to competition, this will practically be impossible. Therefore, we intend to explore through dialogue how we can ensure that this tournament takes place."
Frank Lutz, president of the German Ice Hockey Federation, also acknowledged that Germany may have to reconsider hosting the championship. At a press conference on Friday, when asked about visa issuance for the Russian team, he did not provide a definitive answer but indicated that it would be difficult given the current restrictions.
Marty Jisse, spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry, stated: "At a time when Russia has launched an aggressive war against Ukraine, there is no 'normalization' and we certainly will not pretend that such a thing exists."
While the Women's Ice Hockey World Championship, which is not affected by the CAS ruling, has begun in Denmark, time is moving towards the start of the Youth World Championship in Alberta on December 26.
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