OREANDA-NEWS. The International Hockey Federation (IIHF) will not postpone the World Cup in Switzerland to 2021, the tournament will be held in Riga and Minsk. This was reported by the press service of IIHF.

On March 22, the IIHF announced the cancellation of the World Cup coronavirus due to a pandemic, scheduled to be held from May 8 to 24 in Zurich and Lausanne, Switzerland. IIHF President Rene Fasel previously stated that canceling a tournament could make adjustments to plans for subsequent world championships. Venues for world championships from 2021 to 2025 were approved earlier. The tournament should be held in Minsk and Riga in 2021, in Finnish Helsinki and Tampere in 2022, in St. Petersburg in 2023, in Prague and Ostrava in Czech Republic in 2024, and in Sweden in 2025 and Denmark.

The main reason for the rejection of the tournament by the Swiss Hockey Federation is the economic risks that may arise if the championship is postponed to 2021. The organizing committee of the world championship in Zurich and Lausanne will complete its work by the end of June. It is also noted that the fans who purchased tickets for the World Cup in Switzerland will be reimbursed.