IIHF makes final decision regarding Chinese participation at 2022 Olympics

According to TSN's Gord Miller, the International Ice Hockey Federation announced on Monday that it will allow the Chinese men's national team to participate at the 2022 Winter Olympics despite worries about them not being able to compete within their group.

"The issue of Chinese participation in the men's Olympic tournament in Beijing has apparently been settled. @IIHFHockey president Luc Tardif announced yesterday the Chinese team will not be removed from the competition, despite concerns about its' ability to compete," Miller said in a tweet on Tuesday morning.

The Chinese men's national team currently sits 32nd in the IIHF rankings and has not played a game since the 2019 World Championship where they were in Group A of Division 2, which is the third step below the top division. In that tournament, China finished fifth out of six teams, only winning one of their five games, losing to Spain, Croatia, Serbia, and Australia.

During Monday's IIHF Council meeting, president Luc Tardif said, "To be clear, the IIHF is not going to remove the Chinese team from the Olympic Games, the status of the men's national team as a host nation participant in the Olympic ice hockey tournament was confirmed by Congress and remains unchanged. We are working with the CIHA to confirm their player eligibility according to IIHF rules, and we will continue to assist them as they work towards preparing their team for the Olympic Games."

China will be in Group A at the 2022 Winter Olympics and will play the United States on February 10th, Germany on February 12th, and the number one ranked team by the IIHF, Canada, on February 13th.

The issue of Chinese participation in the men's Olympic tournament in Beijing has apparently been settled. @IIHFHockey president Luc Tardif announced yesterday the Chinese team will not be removed from the competition, despite concerns about its' ability to compete.— Gord Miller (@GMillerTSN) November 3, 2021

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