Ukraine to Host World Youth Hockey Championship

Ukraine was chosen to host Hockey World Cup (U-20), Division II, Group A. The decision was made at the latest Congress of the International Ice Hockey Federation that took place in Bratislava, Slovakia.

The Championship will take place on December 12 till 18 in Donetsk. The renovated “Druzhba” Arena is to host all games of the Championship. The national youth (U-20) teams of Lithuania, Netherlands, South Korea, Hungary, Spain and Ukraine will take part in the tournament.

In the recent months Ukraine has shown an increasing interest in developing its winter sports. The renovated “Druzhba” arena in Donetsk is to become the country’s second main ice rink after Kyiv’s Sports Palace. The reconstruction of the latter was completed just a month ago, and enabled Kyiv to host the Division I of the Ice Hockey World Cup in April 2011.

Moreover, the country is pursuing an ambitious plan to bid for hosting Winter Olympics 2022. To submit the bid in 2014, the country’s leadership launched the project “Olympic Hope 2022”. This project is among Ukraine’s National Projects, which include 10 strategically important investment opportunities aimed at repositioning Ukraine on the world investment map.

Under “Olympic Hope 2022” Ukraine plans to build and reconstruct all major winter sports arenas and resorts, most of which are located in the Carpathian region in Western Ukraine. The total investment into the renovation projects are estimated at 22 to 25 billion UAH (2.8-3.2 billion USD). The state is planning to invest 70% of the needed funds, while attracting 30% from private local and international investors.