President of the International Ice Hockey Federation Luc Tardif spoke at the spring World Cup press conference about the International Olympic Committee’s recent statement. The IOC said last week that it would investigate the return of Russian and Belarusian athletes to the Games.
– We know the IOC’s statement and I fully understand it, because the international federation should be outside of political pressure. It doesn’t matter where it comes from. Sports and safety must always guide (solutions), Tardif commented to Urheilu.
Tardif also stated at the event that he has to look at the situation from the perspective of the International Hockey Federation.
– As a person, I have my own ideas about the situation, but as the president of the IIHF, I have to make decisions in a different way, Tardif stated at the event.
Tardif said that, for example, decisions about the participation of players from Russia and Belarus must take into account the safety of players, including Russian and Belarusian players, staff and supporters. The IIHF does not want to take “any risks”.
He emphasized that safety guides decision-making.
– Regarding morality, it’s not that I don’t have morals. I’m sorry if I disappoint you. We do not want to accept political pressure. We have to stay out of it. We organize hockey competitions, we don’t solve the world’s problems, Tardif said.
Tardif meets the IOC
Tardif wanted to emphasize one thing regarding the participation of Russia and Belarus both at the event and in the interview.
– I think that we will happily take back Russia and Belarus as quickly as possible, because it means that the war is over, Tardif emphasized to .
Tardif says that the federation will decide within three months whether Russia and Belarus can participate in competitions under the international federation next season (2023–2024).
Before this, Tardif plans to meet representatives of the IOC in mid-February. According to Tardif, the IIHF has a lot of questions for the IOC, among other things about the doping control of the Russians and the fact that the athletes are not allowed, according to the IOC, to support the war.
According to Tardiff, the IIHF wants to know fully what these terms mean.
NHL players for the Olympics?
In the next few days, Tardif will meet representatives of the NHL. The purpose is to discuss NHL players’ participation in the Olympics and the World Cup.
Tardif emphasizes that everyone must put effort into it. Discussions are ongoing, but according to Tardif, the NHL wants to get to the Olympics.
– Everyone has to put effort into it. I mean it’s our job to succeed. We have failed in three Olympic Games and I think it is important that the NHL returns to the Olympics, it has a generation of players that they have not touched, Tardif tells .
The last time the world’s best players have measured each other in the World Cup was in 2016.
– If the NHL doesn’t come along this time too, we’re talking about 2030. That’s not a good thing for top hockey.
However, according to Tardif, the decision regarding the Olympics must be made by the 2024 congress, as the preparations require two years.
– Last time, it was just over a month before the Games, when they withdrew for a good reason, because of the corona virus. I want to make sure that the NHL is on the same page as us.
Worry about the World Cup
The World Cup will be held in 2025 at the earliest. According to Tardif, the NHL would like to hold the tournament in February, but the IIHF considers this a problematic time. The games would be three months before the World Cup.
– It is not possible to. We put the facts on the table and explain that there is no cooperation if the games are in February. We propose September and I hope they will understand our request.
– With the exception of 2008, we have not organized the World Cup in North America and competed with the Stanley Cup finals. We hope for the same respect for our World Cup.