Ice sledge hockey launches call for 2016 Euros hosts

“The European Championships are an important part of the build-up towards the next Paralympic Winter Games at PyeongChang 2018, and we expect teams to bring their best with that in mind."

IPC Ice Sledge Hockey has launched a call for hosts for the 2016 European Championships, which will feature a maximum of 180 athletes from up to ten teams.

The competition will follow this year’s hugely successful IPC Ice Sledge Hockey World Championships in Buffalo, USA, which reached record audiences around the world following the success of Sochi 2014.

Jessica Korber, IPC Ice Sledge Hockey Sport Manager, said: “In 2015-16 we hope to keep developing the profile and quality of the sport, and provide more opportunities for teams to compete at the highest level as we outlined in the new competition cycle published in 2014.

“The European Championships are an important part of the build-up towards the next Paralympic Winter Games at PyeongChang 2018, and we expect teams to bring their best with that in mind.

“We are offering organisers the chance to stage a Championships for one of the most popular para-sports, and to host a competition that we hope will be one of the best ever.”

More information about the Championships is available on the IPC Ice Sledge Hockey website, where the bid documents are also published. Bidders have until 17 July 2015 to submit their applications.

In addition to the players, around 70 team officials and 30 international officials are normally part of the Championships.

The last Euros were held in Solleftea, Sweden, in 2011.

Italy stormed to gold with a 2-0 win over the Czech Republic despite finishing second in Group B. In the bronze medal game, Norway beat Estonia 4-0.

In 2014, IPC Ice Sledge Hockey announced the new competition cycle which includes regional Championships and World Championships for A and B-Pool teams, as well as a new C-Pool World Championships.