Ice hockey: Latvia to host world championship after Belarus stripped of event

[ASFN Admin]

Safety concerns over political unrest, the COVID-19 pandemic in Belarus and sponsors threatening to pull out if the tournament was held in Minsk prompted the sport's governing body to strip the country of co-hosting rights last month. Denmark and Slovakia were willing to co-host the event but the IIHF decided it was best to keep all teams in Riga throughout the May 21-June 6 tournament and avoid travel between countries. "I would like to thank our members from Denmark and Slovakia for their willingness to assume hosting duties for the World Championship on such short notice," IIHF president Rene Fasel said in a statement.

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