ESPN Learns NHL Refuses to Send Players to Beijing Olympics

by time news

The National Hockey League (NHL) and the NHL Players’ Association have agreed not to participate in the hockey tournament of the Beijing Olympic Games, slated for February 2022, ESPN reported, citing sources. The reason for the decision is the spread of the coronavirus. As of the time of the announcement, the league had postponed 50 games due to outbreaks of coronavirus in clubs, and the day before it had suspended the season until the start of the Christmas break.

NHL players did not participate in the 2016 Olympics in Pyeongchang, their participation in the 2022 and 2026 Games was stipulated by the collective bargaining agreement. According to the terms of the contract, the issue of the NHL’s refusal to participate in the Beijing Olympics is raised if the postponement of the games due to the consequences of the coronavirus has significantly affected the course of the season. The NHL can withdraw its participation in the Olympics by January 10 without material penalty.

The league will officially announce its decision within 24 hours, ESPN said. Sources of the TV channel note that the window, originally allocated for the Olympics, can be used to host games postponed due to COVID-19, but the NHL may face a shortage of stadiums available for booking.

Earlier, New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson said that the country will not send diplomats to the Beijing Olympics due to COVID-19 and related logistical difficulties. Other countries – notably the United States and Great Britain – have declared a diplomatic boycott of the Games in connection with the violation of human rights in the PRC. Russian President Vladimir Putin, during the December 15 talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, confirmed his plans to come to the Games.

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