Russia to Vie For 2007 Ice Hockey World Championship Host

Russia is set to bid against Canada, Germany and Sweden for the right to host the 2007 Ice Hockey World Championship. RIA Novosti was told in the International Hockey Federation's HQ in Zurich that the organisation had already started studying the respective bids.

Although it may seem strange, Canada has never hosted a world championship. At the same time, the event was last held in Russia in 2000, in Germany 2001 and in Sweden a year later. Finland will welcome this spring's competing teams, while the Czech Republic will have the honour next year, Austria will be the host-country in 2005 and Latvia in 2006.

The winning bid for the 2007 World Championship will be revealed in September 2003. Three countries are now ready to vie for hosting the 2008 tournament: France, Switzerland and Germany. The event will mark the 100th anniversary of the founding of the International Hockey Federation.