The IIHF Council has decided today to cancel the 2020 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship Division I Group A, and the 2020 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship Division I Group B, due to the coronavirus pandemic.



The decision was taken on 17 March during a conference call by the IIHF Council. The Division I Group A tournament was scheduled to take place in Ljubljana, Slovenia from 27 April to 03 May 2020, while the Division I Group B tournament was scheduled from 27 April to 03 May in Katowice, Poland.



In addition, the IIHF Council held a conference call to discuss the latest developments with the coronavirus pandemic on the 2020 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship. Also joining the call were representatives from the organizing committee and the participating teams of the 2020 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship, the IIHF’s World Championship marketing partner Infront Sports & Media, and the IIHF’s main insurance broker for the World Championship.



“Unfortunately, at this time no major decisions related to the status of 2020 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship could be taken,” said IIHF President René Fasel. “The stakeholders openly discussed what has become a very complex situation with the coronavirus, which is affecting many countries as well as participating teams and various other stakeholders of the World Championship.”



The IIHF informed all parties concerned that it remains in close contact with the Swiss authorities and the insurance company to monitor the coronavirus situation and its impact on the World Championship.



In other news, all IIHF committee meetings and camps, seminars, and other meetings have been cancelled until 30 June.



The IIHF will be alerted immediately once any new developments arise and will in turn notify all stakeholders concerned as soon as possible.