Riga to host World Cham­pi­onship

After Belarus was stripped of its role as co-host of the upcoming 2021 IIHF World Championship, the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) has now confirmed which country will host the World Championship. The IIHF Executive Committee unanimously selected Latvia as the sole host.

The games will be played exclusively in the capital, Riga, with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and the resulting travel difficulties cited as the reason. All teams will be housed in one hotel, and a bubble concept – which has already worked excellently at various other sporting events – will presumably be implemented.

Arena Riga and the Elektrum Olympic Center have been selected as venues. In addition to Group B, Arena Riga will host two quarter-finals, as well as the semi-finals and the final. The Olympic Center will host Group A and two quarter-final games. The Daugava Ice Arena, around ten minutes from Arena Riga, will serve as a training venue with two ice rinks.