State Duma deputy Svishchev: responsibility for the cancellation of the MFM in hockey lies with the organizers
Photo: Dmitry Azarov / Kommersant
Dmitry Svishchev, chairman of the State Duma Committee on Physical Culture and Sports, said that the organizers of the competition were responsible for canceling the World Youth Hockey Championship. RIA Novosti writes about it.
“Everything that happened was the fault of the organizers of the competition. They are obliged to ensure the safety of athletes in today's environment. We know how everything will be organized at the Games in China. No one is allowed into hotels, communication from outside is minimized. Here, however, such conditions were not provided, it is the responsibility of the organizers themselves, ”Svishchev said.
He called on the FMBA and the Ice Hockey Federation to make every effort to ensure that all Russian athletes return home without complications and receive medical assistance.
“One of the main tournaments ahead of the Olympic Games, the main tournament for our young hockey players, is canceled. This is one of the most important events in the life of our guys. But the health of our athletes is the most important thing, ”the deputy stressed.
The cancellation of the youth ice hockey world championship became known on Wednesday evening, December 29. This decision was adopted due to outbreaks of coronavirus in several teams. The test for coronavirus of 17-year-old Matvey Michkov turned out to be positive. In total, two players were infected in the team, they were sent to quarantine.
The match between the national teams of Russia and Slovakia at the MFM was canceled. In accordance with the rules of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), the Russian team was awarded a technical defeat with a score of 0: 1. Teams from the United States and the Czech Republic, where cases of coronavirus were also identified, were also awarded technical injuries.
The youth ice hockey world championship was to be held from December 26 to January 5 in Edmonton and Red Deer, Canada. It was planned that Russia will play in the group stage with the USA, Sweden, Slovakia and Switzerland.
