Belarus stripped of ice hockey world championship after crackdown on protesters
- The International Ice Hockey Federation says it’s ‘impossible to ensure the welfare of teams, spectators and officials’ amid political unrest and Covid-19 risks
- The move deprives President Lukashenko, an avid hockey fan, of a stage to host the country’s biggest international event since he claimed victory last August
Belarus has been stripped of the right to co-host this year’s ice hockey world championship due to safety concerns over political unrest and the Covid-19 pandemic there, the sport’s governing body said on Monday, in a blow to President Alexander Lukashenko.
The move deprives Lukashenko, an avid hockey fan, of a stage to host the biggest international event planned in the country since he claimed victory last August in a vote the opposition said was rigged and marred with violations.
Belarusian opposition parties had been calling for the country to be stripped of tournament hosting rights due to a crackdown on protesters in the wake of the disputed election.
A number of major advertisers had also pulled out in the last few days.
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The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) said it had consulted experts and stakeholders about how the tournament could be held in the Belarusian capital in light of political unrest and lax prevention measures against Covid-19.
The IIHF Council found that “it is currently impossible to ensure the welfare of teams, spectators and officials while holding a World Championship in Belarus”.