Riga hosts Ice Hockey WC 2021

The Council of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) on Tuesday decided that Latvia’s capital Riga will be the sole host of the 2021 Ice Hockey World Championship, said the IIHF in a release.

The IIHF took the decision following the withdrawal of the tournament from Minsk, Belarus.

The IIHF Council cited the ongoing challenges placed by COVID-19 together with various technical reasons for its decision to keep the tournament in one city.

With continued uncertainty surrounding international travel restrictions, the Council believes that keeping all teams in Riga throughout the tournament and avoiding travel between two host countries is the safest and most cost-effective way to operate the event, said the IIHF.

Earlier, on 18 January, the IIHF decided to move the 2021 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship from Minsk, Belarus on security and safety grounds.

The decision was taken by the IIHF Council following the conclusion of an extensive diligence process, said the IIHF in a press release.

The tournament was withdrawn from Belarus in the wake of the growing safety and security concerns related to both the rising political unrest and COVID-19.