{"id":189668,"date":"2026-05-28T18:26:37","date_gmt":"2026-05-28T15:26:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/189668\/"},"modified":"2026-05-28T18:26:39","modified_gmt":"2026-05-28T15:26:39","slug":"iihf-clears-belarus-mens-hockey-u18-womens-teams-to-compete-reports","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/189668\/","title":{"rendered":"IIHF clears Belarus men’s hockey U18, women\u2019s teams to compete \u2013 reports"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n\n \"\"\n
\n
\n\n Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka playing hockey, February 2025\n <\/div>\n \n
\n (\u0141uka\u0161enka's press office)<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

May 28, <\/strong>Pozirk.<\/strong> <\/em>The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) has allowed Belarus’ men’s national under-18 ice hockey team to compete in the World Championship, scheduled from April 22 to May 2, 2027 in the United States, hockey.by<\/em> reports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The women\u2019s junior and women\u2019s national hockey teams have also been cleared to compete.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Belarus\u2019 men\u2019s national team has not yet received permission to participate in international competitions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alaksandar Bahdanovi\u010d, head of the Belarusian Ice Hockey Federation, praised the IIHF\u2019s decision as \u201can important and positive step\u201d and promised to \u201cdo everything possible to bring all Belarusian national teams back to the international arena as quickly as possible,\u201d according to a Telegram post by the National Olympic Committee of Belarus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On May 7, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) lifted recommendations to restrict the participation of Belarusian athletes, including teams, in competitions by international federations and international sports event organizers. Ukraine expressed protest and disappointment with the IOC decision, stressing that it contradicted the fundamental principles of justice, responsibility and Olympic values.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Russia launched a full-scale war on Ukraine with the help of authorities in Minsk\u00a0in February 2022, the IOC urged sports federations to ban Russian and Belarusian athletes from all competitions. Later, it recommended that some of them could be allowed as neutral athletes under certain conditions, such as not supporting the war.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All restrictions on Belarusian athletes have been lifted by the World Dance Sport Federation, the World Confederation of Billiards Sports, the International Waterski and Wakeboard Federation, the International Federation of Muaythai Associations, World Gymnastics, European Gymnastics, the International Volleyball Federation and World Boxing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, the International Tennis Federation and World Athletics have maintained restrictions imposed in connection with Russia\u2019s war against Ukraine and the Belarusian regime\u2019s role in it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n
\n \"\"