OMM Newsroom
Canada will not allow athletes from Russia and Belarus to take part in the world junior ice hockey championship, scheduled to be held in Alberta from late December to early January.
Prime Minister Mark Carney announced the decision on Nov. 3 during a televised news conference after a summit in Antigua, AnewZ reported.
“As long as Russia and Belarus support this illegal, unjustified and terrible war in Ukraine, their athletes will not compete in Canada representing their countries,” Carney said.
He added: “If you are referring specifically to the world junior championship, the Russians will not be there.”
Canada, one of Ukraine’s key international supporters, has also criticized a recent decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport allowing Russian athletes to compete in events organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation.
European federations refuse to play Russia
Carney’s announcement came as several European hockey federations said they would not face Russia at next year’s men’s world championship in Germany.
The national federations of Norway, Denmark, Sweden and the Czech Republic announced on Nov. 3 that they would not play Russia’s team at the tournament.
The decisions come amid ongoing disagreements over Russia’s participation in international sport following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
