President of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) Luc Tardiff commented on the refusal of the National Hockey League (NHL) to release players for the 2022 Olympics in Beijing. His words are quoted by the official website of the league.
“Of course, we are disappointed with the NHL’s decision, but we understand the circumstances that forced them to take such a step. Throughout the entire period of negotiations between the IOC, the organizing committee of the Games, the NHL and the NHLPA (National Hockey League Players Association), we understood that this option is possible, “Tardiff said. He shared that it was a shock for the federation when the coronavirus pandemic forced the league to revise the schedule almost overnight. Tardiff stressed that the federation understands that the NHL’s decision is aimed at ensuring the health and safety of hockey players.
Earlier, the organizing committee of the Beijing Olympics expressed regret over the NHL’s decision and stressed that efforts will be made to prevent an outbreak of coronavirus during the Games. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) said that refusing to perform would deprive players of another opportunity to become Olympians.
The NHL’s refusal to release hockey players to the Games became known on December 22. The decision was made against the backdrop of an increased number of cases of coronavirus infection in the league.
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