Ostersund 2020 European Championships cancelled

Competition was scheduled to take place from 19 to 25 April in Sweden 12 Mar 2020
Imagen
A Para ice hockey team on the ice seen from above
Sweden was set to host the 2020 European Championships
ⒸMartin Rose/Getty Images
By World Para Ice Hockey

The Ostersund 2020 Para Ice Hockey European Championships, which was scheduled to take place from 19 to 25 April in Sweden, has been cancelled.

The Swedish Government announced on Wednesday (11 March) that all events involving the presence of more than 500 persons will be cancelled in the country as a measure to control the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak.

The Ostersund 2020 Local Organising Committee, the National Paralympic Committee of Sweden and World Para Ice Hockey regret the cancellation of the European Championships but support the decision to prioritise the health and well-being of athletes, staff and all other participants – as well the general public - as the number one priority.

The announcement also impacted other events scheduled to take place in the Swedish city such as the Para Biathlon World Championships and World Para Nordic Skiing World Cup Finals. 

Ostersund hosted the last edition of the European Championships in 2016. Russia claimed the European title.