Pandemic puts paid to ice hockey world championship
The tournament was slated to take place in Lausanne and Zurich.
Keystone / Christian Bruna
The Ice Hockey World Championship, which had been scheduled to start in Switzerland from May 8, has been called off because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The International Ice Hockey FederationExternal link (IIHF) took the decision on Saturday. “This is a harsh reality to face for the international ice hockey family, but one that we must accept,” said IIHF president René Fasel in a statementExternal link. “The coronavirus is a global problem and requires major efforts by government bodies to combat its spread. The IIHF must do all it can to support this fight. We have to set aside sport for now and support both government bodies and the ice hockey family.”
There is no possibility to reschedule the annual tournament to another date later this year, the organisers said. Other host countries have been fixed until 2025, raising the possibility that Switzerland could miss out on hosting the event for some time.
The IIHF congress will meet to thrash out the implications of the championship being cancelled this year and arrange a ticket refund policy.
Orders had been received for some 300,000 tickets worth around CHF24 million ($24.4 million), Gian Gilli, CEO of the organising committee, told the Swiss News Agency Keystone-SDA.
The tournament had “implemented a robust insurance and risk management program” to cover lost revenues from a cancellation.
The 2020 IIHF annual conference, due to have been held in Zurich on May 21-23, has also been called off. It has yet to be decided when and where the meeting can be rescheduled.
More
More
Coronavirus: the situation in Switzerland
This content was published on
An overview of the latest Covid-related information in the Alpine nation.
Living longer: What do you think about the longevity trend?
The longevity market is booming thanks in part to advances in the science of ageing. What do you think of the idea of significantly extending human lifespan?
Glacier collapses burying large parts of Swiss village Blatten
This content was published on
A gigantic avalanche of ice, mud and debris has buried a large part of the village of Blatten after a major glacier collapsed.
Swiss government seeks better labour integration of Ukrainian refugees
This content was published on
The Swiss government has now set a goal of 50% of Ukrainian refugees to be in employment by the end of 2025, compared with 38% at present.
Swiss government greenlights Ruag sale of Leopard tanks to Germany
This content was published on
The defence company Ruag MRO is allowed to sell 71 Leopard 1 battle tanks to Germany. However, the tanks may not be sold to Ukraine.
Foie gras sold in Switzerland must declare painful production process
This content was published on
Starting July 1, the sale of foie gras in Switzerland must make reference to the painful procedures performed on the animal.
Swiss economics minister seeks progress on US tariff negotiations by July
This content was published on
Swiss Economics Minister Guy Parmelin is hoping for results in the tariff negotiations with the US by the beginning of July.
UN weather agency expects new temperature record soon
This content was published on
A new global temperature record is likely to be set in the next five years, according to the World Meteorological Organisation in Geneva.
Geneva proposed as possible site for Ukraine-Russia talks
This content was published on
US special representative for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, has said that Geneva is being considered as a venue for talks between Russia and Ukraine.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Federal funds proposed for international sporting events
This content was published on
As Switzerland gears up for a clutch of international sporting events, the government today asked parliament to sign-off on financial support.
This content was published on
The Swiss put up a tenacious fight, but the Swedish proved to be too strong and ended Switzerland’s fairy-tale nine-game winning streak at this year’s tournament. Switzerland’s last world championship medal was in 1953, when it took bronze. Despite being founder members of the International Ice Hockey Federation, the Swiss were contesting their second ever final, having lost on…
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.