News Release
HRM Welcomes Decision to Host International Championships
(Friday, May 7/2004)-- Mayor Peter Kelly and members of Halifax Regional Council today welcomed the announcement by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) that the world's men's championships will be held in Halifax/Quebec City in 2008.
Mayor Kelly said the joint Halifax/Quebec City bid to host the world's mens is an historic milestone for both municipalities and Canada, because the championships have only been held outside Europe twice in their history. The United States hosted the event in 1960 and 1962.
The Mayor said the 2008 championships have further significant meaning to Canada because they will mark the 100th anniversary of the International Ice Hockey Federation.
This will be the fourth major national or international hockey event that Halifax won the right to host during the past few years. It hosted the Memorial Cup in 2000; the World's Juniors in 2003; and the Women's Worlds this year.
Mayor Kelly, on behalf of Regional Council, extended congratulations to Fred MacGillivray, chair of Canada's Bid Committee, and its members for the tremendous amount of time and effort they committed to preparing the bid and presenting it in Prague this week. HRM and Quebec City submitted the joint bid and will work with the Canadian Hockey Association to come up with a balanced schedule for the 56-game tournament.
"We are proud that Halifax took the lead on the bid, so naturally, we will be making every effort to ensure that as many Canadian team games as possible and, hopefully the final, will be played in our city. We will also have to hold some discussions with the federal and provincial governments, as well as the business community, to ensure that the facilities and amenities we will be able to offer are appropriate and in keeping with this type of world-class championship hockey event," he said
-30--
Mayor Peter Kelly
(902) 490-4010
