Degtyarev announced the plan “B” in case of refusal of Canada in visas to hockey players

The Russian side has a backup plan in case of refusal to obtain visas for hockey players to participate in the youth world championship in Canada, said in an interview with Zvezda, the Minister of sports and head of the Russian Olympic Committee Mikhail Degtyarev.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on October 30 ordered the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) to allow Russian teams to participate in international tournaments. The next competition - the World Youth Championships - will be held in Canada in the cities of Edmonton and Red Deer in December 2026 - January 2027. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said that the Russians will be denied visas for the tournament.

“We have a plan B. We won't disclose it. It will be good for Russia and bad for Canada. Because it will lose the right to host international competitions. Because the IOC has now reformed and not only restored the Russian Olympic Committee and lifted all restrictions, all previously adopted discriminatory recommendations, but also amended the Olympic Charter with an appeal to all international federations to prevent politicization, to make all decisions regardless of political and, importantly, public pressure.

At the same time, the IIHF has not yet decided how the Russians will be admitted to international tournaments. The scale of the consequences of the decision taken by CAS, as well as the difficulties faced by all parties involved, was clearly underestimated, and the return of Russian teams is fraught with significant difficulties - obtaining visas, ensuring security, logistics, as well as changes in the format of the competition.

In addition, the national teams of Norway, Sweden, Latvia, Finland, Denmark and the Czech Republic announced that they will not play against Russia.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia would continue to oppose the politicization of sports and work with international federations and the IOC to defend the interests of Russian athletes.

On November 8, the Norwegian Hockey Federation (NIHF) announced on November 8 that the country’s youth team had been removed from the upcoming World Cup due to Russia’s admission, but expressed hope for a review of the decision. The Swiss Ice Hockey Federation said that the country’s youth team will not play against Russia at this tournament.