The mayor of the city of Tampere, Anna-Kaisa Ikonen, has officially stated in a letter that Tampere is ready to hold the competition next year as well. An estimated tens of millions of euros will be left in the city this spring.
Tampere is also ready to host next year’s World Hockey Championships. Mayor of the city of Tampere Anna-Kaisa Ikonen has sent a letter to the International Hockey Federation where the desire has been expressed.
Tampere’s opportunities for the Games now also look good.
Commentator on the Canadian TSN sports channel Gord Miller says on Twitter that the Hungarian Hockey Association has withdrawn from the application process for next year’s World Cup. Hungary applied for the competition together with Slovenia, but according to Miller, Riga and Tampere are now the only options to host the World Cup.
Last year’s World Cup host Riga and Tampere, which is organizing this year’s World Cup final, have applied for the competition together. The annual meeting of the International Hockey Federation IIHF will decide the organizer of the competition on Friday in Tampere.
In late April, the IIHF decided not to play next year’s World Cup in St. Petersburg, Russia. The IIHF at the time justified its decision on the safety of players, editors, journalists and fans.
Russia and supporting Belarus have so far been excluded from international hockey due to the war in Ukraine.
Benefit businesses and the city
Anna-Kaisa Ikonen is not licking yet, but wants to wait for the decision of the International Hockey Federation.
– I still sit firmly with my feet on the ground, it is good to wait for the official decision. We have expressed our readiness to hold the Games next year as well. We are home to a puck and that would be great.
The mayor of Tampere has benefited enormously from this spring’s World Championships, the mayor estimates.
The city has gained international visibility and corporate attention. This is likely to bring new jobs and investment to the city. In addition, Tampere’s terraces, restaurants and hotels have been full and many companies have benefited from the Games.
– This is about tens of millions of euros left in the regional economy in terms of revenue. Yes, the Games have a positive impact on us.
Anna-Kaisa Ikonen also rejoices at the atmosphere brought by the Games.
– After a couple of years of corona and in the middle of the gloomy news of the world, it is good that there are topics of joy and places to meet.
The mayor himself has had time to watch two games and in the evening is going to watch a game between Finland and the Czech Republic.