Caksa to propose to National Sports Council to decide on allocating financing for organization of Ice Hockey WC in Latvia

RIGA - Minister of Education and Science Anda Caksa (New Unity) will urge the National Sports Council of Latvia to consider the issue of granting support to the Latvian Hockey Federation (LHF) for organizing the Ice Hockey World Championships in Riga, LETA was informed by the Communication Department of the Ministry of Education and Science (IZM).

Until now, the allocation of additional state budget funds to the LHF to cover expenses related to the organization of the tournament was not planned, because on May 19, 2022, when coordinating the organization of the World Championships in Latvia, the LHF had only asked for organizational, but not financial, support.

However, being aware of the importance of the event and its significance in the sports life in Latvia and the world, the ministry has made the decision to decide on the allocation of state budget funds to the LHF to cover part of the license fee for the right to hold the tournament.

When deciding on this issue, the possibility of setting additional conditions for the organizers of the 2023 Ice Hockey World Championship, which could be related to support for the involvement of children and young people in physical activities and the promotion of daily sports activities, will be considered, according to the ministry.

As reported, funding for the organization of the 2023 Ice Hockey World Championships has not yet been received from the Latvian state budget, Edgars Buncis, a member of the board of SIA Hokeja Akademija, the organizer of the Riga group, informed at a Sports Subcommittee meeting of the Saeima Education, Culture and Science Committee on Tuesday.

The budget of the tournament stage in Riga is planned to be less than eight million euros. Of this, EUR 570,000 are planned to be financed by the Riga municipality, and EUR 550,000 are planned by the official supporters of the Latvian organizing committee.

On the other hand, state funding of EUR 500,000 for the license payment and EUR 250,000 for the co-payment of the IIHF congress has not yet been allocated.

The remaining revenues in the amount of EUR 6,121,580 are planned from the sale of tickets.

LETA also reported, the 2023 Ice Hockey World Championships will take place in Riga and Tampere from May 12 to 28.

Riga will host one group stage, as well as two quarterfinals matches.