Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Tuesday that Russia will not be allowed to participate in the upcoming world junior hockey tournament, adding to a growing boycott by European federations ahead of next year’s men’s tournament in Germany.
Sweden, Finland, the Czech Republic, Norway, Latvia and Denmark have issued statements in support of boycotting matches against Russia as long as the war in Ukraine continues. One of the main sponsors of next year’s World Championships has threatened to pull out, after Finland announced on Monday that it rally other nations refuse to play against Russia.
Carney said Canada respects these decisions, but the nation had its own decision to make. The World Junior Championship, featuring the best male players under the age of 20, will take place in the province of Alberta starting in late December.
“While Russia and Belarus support this horrific, illegal and unjustified war in Ukraine, for as long as this lasts, none of these athletes will compete for their countries in Canada,” Carney said. “So if you ask specifically about the junior world championships, the Russians won’t be there.”
In a statement released minutes after Carney’s comments, Hockey Canada said it “thanks the Government of Canada for today’s strong position that Canada intends to prevent Russian and Belarusian officials and athletes from participating under their national symbols in international sporting events taking place on Canadian soil.”
The Hockey Canada Board of Directors is meeting this week. The International Ice Hockey Federation and USA Hockey are also meeting to discuss what has become one of the hottest topics in sports since the Court of Arbitration for Sport. ruled last week that the IIHF we must reintegrate the Russian teams, starting with the world juniors
Russia and Belarus have been excluded since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship and Secretary of State for Sports Adam van Koeverden said in a letter that the government would use existing federal law to prevent the national teams of Russia and Belarus from competing under their national symbols.
“This measure is not addressed to the Russian and Belarusian people,” they wrote. “Rather, the objective is to prevent the governments of Russia and Belarus from using international sporting events organized in Canada as platforms for state representation, political legitimacy and propaganda. »
Austria told The Associated Press it was considering whether to join the six other countries in the boycott, and Germany was unsure whether to host the men’s championship.
There was no immediate reaction from the IIHF to the boycotts. USA Hockey did not respond to a message seeking comment.
Hockey power in Sweden adds weight to boycott movement
The Swedish Hockey Federation said its board of directors decided Tuesday that it would not play Russia but would still play other matches. This is a turnaround from last week, after Sweden initially indicated that a boycott was not being considered following the CAS decision on Friday.
“The Three Crowns will not face Russia at the next world championships,” federation president Anders Larsson said in a statement, using the team’s nickname.
The Swedish statement came shortly after Norway announced its boycott.
“Our position is that Russia must be excluded from all international championships as long as the war in Ukraine continues and remains unchanged,” the Norwegian Ice Hockey Federation said in a statement. “At the same time, this decision is based on our responsibility to protect the safety and well-being of our players, our team staff and their families. We believe that playing against Russia under the current circumstances could expose our players and our team staff to significant security risks. Our priority is therefore their mental health, well-being and personal safety.”
Norway only referred to the men’s world championship in May in its statement. General secretary Petter Salsten told the AP that in the case of the world juniors, Norway could be excluded from the tournament by the IIHF to make way for Russia. In this case, “if RUS is added, there is a huge possibility that NOR will be eliminated,” he wrote via email, because Norway was the last team to qualify.
The president of the Danish Hockey Federation told the Ritzau news agency that his teams would not play Russia. The Latvian federation said it “reaffirms its long-standing and firm position” not to play against Russia or its ally Belarus.
The Austrian federation told the AP in an emailed statement: “We support the decision of Finland and Norway and are currently examining whether European nations will join together in a boycott. We therefore do not rule out a boycott and continue to coordinate with the authorities on this matter.”
Finland are the reigning world champions and Norway won the bronze medal this year.
The growing boycott is similar to the situation in football in 2022, shortly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. On this occasion, all of Russia’s potential opponents for World Cup qualifying threatened to boycott. FIFA successfully pleaded to the CAS for excluding Russia on the grounds that not doing so risked “irreparably and chaotically” harming competition.
Second major sponsor puts pressure on IIHF
Finnish tire maker Nokian Tires said it would no longer sponsor the world championship if Russia took part.
Tiina Frazer, senior vice president of brand, marketing and communications, said that “under the current circumstances, continuing sponsorship if Russia participates would not be in line with our values.”
Swedish furniture maker AJ Products, a tournament sponsor since 1989, said Monday it would ask that its logo not be displayed if Russia plays.
Previously, the chief executive of the German hockey federation said it could withdraw from hosting the men’s world championship due to concerns over costs and security.
Junior tournaments are also affected, with the Finnish city of Turku saying it will not co-host next year’s World Juniors if Russia participates.
The Czech federation will host the women’s under-18 world championship in January and announced on Tuesday that it would discuss with the government whether Russian players would be refused entry into the country.
One of the political figures in favor of Russia’s return is the pro-Russian Slovak Prime Minister, Robert Fico.
“I’ve also always wondered what the value of a gold medal is, if to achieve it you don’t have to beat Russian hockey players, who are undoubtedly among the best in the world,” he posted on social media on Saturday.
The women’s world championship which begins this week in Denmark is not affected by the CAS decision and will take place without Russia.
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Associated Press writer Karel Janicek in Prague contributed to this report.
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See AP’s full sports coverage here
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