Presentation of the logo for the 2023 IIHF World Championship

The formal presentation of the logo for the 2023 IIHF World Championship took place today at the Grand Hotel Europe in Saint Petersburg.

The competition will be the 86th edition of the World Championship.

President of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) Rene Fasel, president of the Russian Ice Hockey Federation (RIHF) Vladislav Tretiak, first vice-president of the RIHF Roman Rotenberg, special RIHF representative for international affairs Pavel Bure and vice governor of Saint Petersburg Boris Piotrovsky all participated in the presentation.

The World Championship logo was created using the basis of "Athletes" painting by the great Russian artist Kazimir Malevich, and is designed in the style of Suprematism - one of the most influential areas of abstract art of the 20th century.



IIHF president Rene Fasel:

- I am really pleased that we can stage the 2023 World Championship at the new arena in Saint Petersburg. I will never forget the year 2000, when Vladimir Putin opened the World Championship which also took place at a new stadium. That particular arena is still excellent, but the new stadium will be one of the largest in the world. The Russian national team - and not ROC - will play at the tournament, our normal life will be back in 2023. It will be a fantastic World Championship with brilliant organisation! Russians know how to host big competitions. Furthermore, let's not forget that the 2023 World Junior Championship will be held in Omsk and Novosibirsk.

RIHF president Vladislav Tretiak:

- In the 2022/2023 season, both the junior and senior World Championships will be held in Russia in one season for the first time in history. Thank you to the IIHF for trusting us with hosting these huge competitions, Russia will repay the faith shown by the ice hockey world. The tournaments will be held at the highest level, the local and federal authorities are fully supporting us. In Russia, we always construct new arenas for big international competitions, with the largest stadium in the world currently being built in Saint Petersburg with a capacity of almost 22 thousand. The competition will be a true celebration of ice hockey!

RIHF first vice-president Roman Rotenberg:

- For us as an organisation, the hosting of the World Championship in Saint Petersburg is a challenge. We've already proven just how well Russia hosts international competitions, but you can't look back in the past. We have to prove our capabilities again in 2023, and we will do this. It will be a fantastic ice hockey celebration both for the city and the whole of Russia! We're in close contact with the Saint Petersburg administration and our colleagues from the IIHF, it's great to see how everyone is enjoying working over this important project. It will be the eighth World Championship in Russia and the third in Saint Petersburg. We have a lot of work ahead of us 24/7!

RIHF special representative for international matters Pavel Bure:

- I was only eight years old when the 1979 World Championship took place in Moscow, at the time I was making my first steps in ice hockey. My idols from the USSR national team were on the ice then, and I wanted to be like them. I realised just what a large event the World Championship in your own country really is, it unites millions of fans representing different generations. I am happy that my country once again has received the right to host the World Championship in Saint Petersburg, it is a wonderful event which will make ice hockey even more popular here. Moreover, after the competition ends, the new arena will continue to act as a centre for ice hockey in Russia.