BERLIN -- Germany's government wants to keep the men's hockey world championships in the country "as planned" after the reinstatement of Russia last week caused nearly half of the 16 teams to threaten a boycott.
The German hockey federation has hinted it could give up hosting rights for the event in Duesseldorf and Mannheim in May rather than deal with uncertainty over extra security and higher costs.
Seven European nations' hockey federations, including those in Finland and Sweden -- though not Germany -- have said they will compete in the championships but will boycott games against Russia.
"It needs to be our aim to hold the tournaments as planned," German government spokesperson Stefan Kornelius said Friday. "That would, however, not in fact be possible given the boycotts if Russia is to participate. Therefore we now want to explore options through discussions to enable us to still have the tournament take place."
Russia had been excluded from International Ice Hockey Federation events since its invasion of Ukraine in 2022. A Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling last week compelled the IIHF to let Russia back in.
Besides the boycott plans, the IIHF has come under pressure from major sponsors threatening to end their agreements or refuse to have their logos displayed if Russia plays.
Russia has said it expects to be awarded wins by forfeit if other countries refuse to play. The Russian Foreign Ministry has also criticized the Canadian government's plans to exclude Russia from the world junior championship there starting next month.
The women's world championship starting Friday in Denmark has not been affected by the CAS ruling and is going ahead without Russia.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney received the backing of Wayne Gretzky in his decision to bar Russians from competing at the world junior tournament in Alberta.
"Nobody likes war, right?" Gretzky said, speaking in Toronto on Friday. "We definitely don't want to see this. We hope it ends. We wish it didn't start. I understand the stance the prime minister is taking, and good for him."
Gretzky is the NHL's all-time points leader. From Brantford, Ontario, his family's lineage has roots to present-day Ukraine, Belarus and Poland.
"He's made that stance, and he's made it clear," Gretzky said in reference to Carney. "I think a lot of the players and the people of Canada feel the same way."