IIHF World In-Line Championship returns to Germany

[irishplayer]

IIHF World In-Line Championship returns to Germany.

16 teams to compete for medals.


Sixteen teams will take part in the 2004 IIHF World In-Line Hockey Championship in southern Germany, with the exact venue TBD. The tentative dates are July 10-18. 22 national associations have applied for participation, 14 of them have already qualified to take part according to the previous world championship ranking:



1 Finland (World Champion)

2 Sweden

3 USA

4 Czech Republic

5 Germany

6 Slovakia

7 Slovenia

8 Austria

9 Japan

10 Brazil

11 Australia

12 Hungary

13 Great Britain

14 New Zealand



The format was decided when the IIHF In-Line Hockey Committee met in Vienna, Austria November 22-23, 2003 and. The members of the Committee, Gary del Vecchio (USA), Wolfgang Nickel (AUT), Eckard Schindler (GER) and Teemu Vanhala (FIN) together with the consultant for South America Daniel Schiller (ARG), met under the guidance of Walter L Bush, IIHF Vice President and among other important decisions have formulated a five year plan for the sport.



For the two remaining available spots, qualification groups have been established with the participation of Belgium, Liechtenstein, Portugal, Chinese Taipei, Hong-Kong, Namibia, South Africa and Argentina.



Jon Elvy from the USA has been appointed Referee-in-Chief for Inline Hockey. He will co-ordinate the officiating programme and supervise the playing rules change proposal that the national associations will forward to the IIHF with the view to adopt for the season 2004-2005.



Committee chairmen Walter L. Bush Jr. has outlined the following priorities in the five-year plan for the growth, development and improved positioning of In-Line Hockey worldwide.

a) To establish a club competition both in Europe and South America

b) To establish an U18 World Championship

c) To establish a Women's World Championship

d) To establish a network for coaching, officiating, administration as a prime goal for development

e) To improve the communication system





http://www.clubi.ie/smeaton/images/irishallstarz.gif

[Defense1st]

July 10-18th; perfect timing. Lets see: FIRS, Torhs Finals, USARS USA Championships, TopCat Alliance, TPC Finals, 6 Pac Finals are all June 23 thru July 10th and USARS/AAU Men's/Women's World Championships and Junior Olympics are July 30th until August 10th.

Narch on the other hand has not announced their dates or location, but one would suppose they might fall July 15-July 26 or thereabouts. That was a great decision by the IIHF to schedule in German about the same time as Narch; lets thin the talent pool completely.

The cooperation between roller hockey organizations just get better everyday.

[bobbyorio]

That sucks we(Ireland) should have a crack at qualifying politics always get in the way.

[Alexander]

Of course the IIHF Inline World Championships have been ongoing since 1995. I think only NARCh can match this longevity is that not right? The USA Hockey Inline National Mens Team members wouldn't be competing in NARCh so I'm not sure about the talent issue.

[psfye]

That's just great!!!
There's already a european champions cup, a U18 european and world championship, and a women world championship...all run by FIRS.
IIHF and FIRS are both working to make our sport grow but they are both taking it down by not working together.

[mosquitoes]

As far as I know FIRS World Championship is in place since 1995...

[TimeKeeper_CYMRU]

Correct!

<font color=blue>FIRS - Federation International de Roller Sports
CIRILH - Comite International Roller In Line Hockey</font color=blue>
<font color=black>
Have organised World Inline Roller Hockey Championships as follows:

1995 ? CHICAGO, USA ? ODEUM ARENA

1996 ? ROCCARASO, ITALY ? PALACHIACCIO

1997 ? ZELL AM SEE, AUSTRIA ? HALLE ZELL AM SEE

1998 ? WINNIPEG, CANADA ? MAX BELL ARENA

1999 ? THUN AND WICHTRACH, SWITZERLAND

2000 ? AMIENS, FRANCE ? COLISEUM

2001 ? TORREVIEJA, SPAIN ? EL PALACIO MUNICIPAL

2002 ? ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, USA ? ESL SPORTS CENTER

2003 ? PISEK, CZECH REPUBLIC ? ZIMNI STADION

For 2004 the venue is:<font color=blue>
LONDON, ONTARIO, CANADA - WESTERN FAIR SPORTS CENTRE.</font color=blue>

<font color=black>For additional information see:
<A HREF="http://www.rollersports.org" target="_new">http://www.rollersports.org</A>
<A HREF="http://www.CanadaInline.com" target="_new">http://www.CanadaInline.com</A>

<font color=blue>John,
Swansea, Great Britain.</font color=blue>