The Latvian Ice Hockey Federation (LIHF) together with the Finnish Ice Hockey Association has begun the process of applying to host the men's ice hockey world championship in the elite division in 2030, LIHF announced on Tuesday, LETA reports.
“Both countries are joining forces to offer a tournament with the highest organizational standards, relying on both professional experience and outstanding results from previous championships,” the Latvian Ice Hockey Federation (LIHF) stated.
As noted by the federation, Latvia has demonstrated its ability to host world-class hockey events over the past decades, having organized men's world championships in 2006, 2021, and 2023. The LIHF particularly highlights the 2023 championship, which saw 160,000 spectators in Riga, including 42,000 foreign guests. The fan zone in Riga attracted 220,000 hockey fans, and the tournament was covered by 270 media representatives from around the world, the federation calculated.
According to the LIHF's estimates, the 2023 championship contributed €46.2 million to the country's economy, of which €43.26 million were the expenses of foreign fans. In this tournament, the Latvian national team won bronze medals — the highest achievement in the history of Latvian hockey.
“Latvia has proven that it can professionally, safely, and with a unique atmosphere host world-class hockey tournaments,” said LIHF President Aigars Kalvitis. “Together with Finland, we are ready to host another outstanding championship and once again confirm that our countries are reliable partners in the international hockey family.”
The President of the Finnish Ice Hockey Association, Heikki Hietanen, noted that the cooperation with Latvia in 2023 was excellent, and the Finnish side looks forward to the opportunity to unite efforts again.
“We are two experienced organizers, and together we will provide a world-class tournament for teams, fans, and all participants,” said Hietanen.
The evaluation of bids will take place in several stages. The Council of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) will analyze the submitted materials, organizational plans, and infrastructure, while the final vote on the host of the 2030 championship will take place at the IIHF Congress in 2026 during the World Championship in Switzerland.
The 2027 World Championship will be held in Germany, in 2028 in France, and in 2029 in Slovakia. The Winter Olympic Games will also take place in 2030.
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