Ice Hockey Chief Regrets Tipping Beijing as 2022 Favorite

(ATR) The president of the International Ice Hockey Federation regrets saying that China is the favorite to land the 2022 Winter Olympics.

IIHF president and IOC Executive Board member Rene Fasel made the original comments on the sidelines of the IIHF World Junior Championship in Toronto.

"I have to apologize," Fasel told The Toronto Star. "I do not have any right to do so, to say as an IOC member that they are favorites. So they will kick my ass, but what can I do? This is a fact. China is a favorite."

Beijing and Almaty, Kazakhstan are the two finalists to host the 2022 Winter Olympics. A host will be chosen at the July IOC Session in Kuala Lumpur.

The topic came up as part of a discussion of whether NHL players would be a part of the Olympics going forward.

"This time, the Olympics will be another issue as the time zone will be an issue with Korea," Fasel said. "We also know that 2022 will be in Asia - either in Kazakhstan or in China. I think China is favored to win that race."

Fasel said what has been assumed for some time: garnering NHL participation for the 2018 Olympics will be a long shot.

"To be honest, after five times participating with the best players in the Olympics, this time will be an even bigger challenge to get them there."

He later said he remains "confident" that the players want to go.

Written by Nick Devlin

20 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics is AroundTheRings.com, for subscribers only.