Asia (bbabo.net), - The National Hockey League and the NHL Players Association have agreed on a decision not to participate in the Beijing Olympics and are expected to announce it within 24 hours, according to the American sports channel ESPN, citing sources. Other media outlets write that it will take place within the current week.
ESPN explains that until January 10, the NHL has the right to make such a decision without financial penalties. According to NBC Sports, the NHL will first inform the IOC of its position, followed by an official announcement.
The reports indicate that the reason for this decision was the omicron coronavirus strain. Because of him, the NHL had to postpone dozens of matches, and then go ahead of schedule for the Christmas holidays. It is planned that the league will be able to play part of the NHL matches postponed in December during the Olympics.
There is another problem associated with the coronavirus: if NHL hockey players went to the Games, there are high risks that one of them will become infected there with the virus, states NBC.
Because of the omicron, the risk has become quite real that, for example, a player with a positive test for coronavirus would be stuck in Beijing for three to five weeks, "the channel notes.
The report says that, thus, many NHL stars will now be deprived of the opportunity to compete in the Olympics for the first time. In particular, the list of such players mentions the Russians Artemy Panarin and Andrei Vasilevsky.
The TV channel also wonders if the Russian hockey superstar Alexander Ovechkin has lost his last opportunity to shine at the Olympic tournament.
“It is unclear how the future“ Olympic ”fate will develop for such veterans as Alex Ovechkin. He is 36 years old, and the next games are in four years. Will we see him again at the Games? "- writes NBC.
Finally, the channel suggests that against the background of the NHL's refusal to participate in the Games in Beijing, the chances of organizing the World Cup are increasing: this tournament is held at the national team level from time to time, with the NHL itself being the organizer.
The Beijing Olympics will be held from 4 to 20 February 2022.
bbabo.Net