The German federal government has effectively ruled out hosting the next ice hockey world championship in May if the Russian team is allowed to participate, DW reports. Government spokesman Stefan Cornelius said widespread opposition from other countries, as well as business and media partners, would make hosting the tournament "almost impossible from a sporting and economic point of view". He made the remarks at a press conference following consultations between the German government, the German Ice Hockey Association (DEB), the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), and the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB). Cornelius said threats of boycotts from several countries, including reigning world champion Finland, showed that "the international hockey community does not accept the return of Russia, even despite the ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Several tournament sponsors also said they would withdraw their support if the Russian team was allowed to compete. Meanwhile, DEB board chairman Frank Lutz raised the possibility that Germany could give up its position as the host of the tournament. "Our goal is to hold the tournaments as planned. However, if Russia is accepted and the subsequent boycotts therefore, we now intend to explore options through negotiations that will still allow the tournament to take place," Cornelius said.

The German federal government has effectively ruled out hosting the next ice hockey world championship in May if the Russian team is allowed to participate, DW reports. Government spokesman Stefan Cornelius said widespread opposition from other countries, as well as business and media partners, would make hosting the tournament "almost impossible from a sporting and economic point of view". He made the remarks at a press conference following consultations between the German government, the German Ice Hockey Association (DEB), the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), and the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB). Cornelius said threats of boycotts from several countries, including reigning world champion Finland, showed that "the international hockey community does not accept the return of Russia, even despite the ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Several tournament sponsors also said they would withdraw their support if the Russian team was allowed to compete. Meanwhile, DEB board chairman Frank Lutz raised the possibility that Germany could give up its position as the host of the tournament. "Our goal is to hold the tournaments as planned. However, if Russia is accepted and the subsequent boycotts therefore, we now intend to explore options through negotiations that will still allow the tournament to take place," Cornelius said.