Official RIHF statement with regard to the IOC's recommendations

The 14th Olympic Summit at the Olympic House in Lausanne on 11 December "recognised the importance of political neutrality for the Olympic Movement" and supported the decision of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board that "young athletes with Russian or Belarusian passports should no longer be restricted in their access to international youth competitions in both individual and team sports."

According to the report, this decision "is recommended for adoption by all international federations and sports event organisers for their own youth events."

The Russian Ice Hockey Federation (RIHF) supports the IOC decision and new recommendations, is in constant contact with the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), and will submit a request to the IIHF Council to admit its junior national teams to the World Championships in the U18 and U20 age categories.

The RIHF will continue to fight for our national teams to be permitted to participate in international tournaments again.