Ukraine has withdrawn its bid to host an IIHF World Championship Division IA in Donetsk on April 18-24, 2015.
“Following consultations with specialists from the International Ice Hockey Federation [IIHF] and the heads of the national associations of Italy, Kazakhstan, Japan, Hungary and Poland, the Ukrainian Ice Hockey Federation executive committee has decided to withdraw Ukraine’s bid to organize and host the 2015 ice hockey world championship,” the Ukrainian Ice Hockey Federation reported on Friday, Aug. 15.
“Unfortunately, we cannot be absolutely protected from the possibility that political tensions in the country could be a hindrance for foreign guests and fans who would like to come to a festival of hockey in Donetsk. It is a priority for us to find the right decision that would satisfy everyone, from the tournament’s participants and commercial partners to ordinary fans, together with the IIHF and our colleagues from Italy, Kazakhstan, Japan, Hungary and Poland,” Ukrainian Ice Hockey Federation President Anatoliy Brezvin said.
The letter has been forwarded to the IIHF office.
A final decision on the venue of the tournament will be made at an IIHF congress in Spain in mid-September.
