BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (AP) — Russia will host the 2016 ice hockey world championship in Moscow and St. Petersburg.
Russia ended up winning the bid by default after its only rivals, Denmark and Ukraine, withdrew their bids at a congress of the International Ice Hockey Federation in the Slovak capital on Friday.
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, who attended the congress to support his country’s bid, thanked the IIHF for its decision.
Putin said “Russia is eager to host this great tournament.”
Russia most recently hosted the worlds in 2000 and 2007, and is the most successful team in tournament history with 25 titles.
Russia faced Finland in the semifinals in Bratislava on Friday.
