http://www.insidethegames.biz/articl...e-admits-fasel
Apparently a major stumbling block is that the IOC is not willing to give the NHL/NHLPA any money for insurance and transport like they did in the previous games.
Will see how much of an issue this really is or if it is just posturing to get the IOC to kick in money.
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A decision by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) not to pay transportation or insurance costs for National Hockey League (NHL) players to participate at Pyeongchang 2018 has left a "difficult financial situation", the head of the sport's world governing body has admitted.
The IOC have contributed to costs for all five Olympic Games NHL players have participated in ever since they first appeared at Nagano in 1998.
They have now changed their stance, however, meaning there is far more pressure on the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) and the NHL to shoulder the financial burden.
“The IOC took the decision not to pay transportation and insurance costs for NHL and NHL players to come to the next Olympic Games," IIHF President René Fasel, who has led the body since 1994, told insidethegames during the SportAccord Convention.
"We had a meeting with the NHL last week and the prognosis is not really good.
"Our wish is to have the best players.
"[But the IOC] not covering the cost as they did at the last five Olympic Games puts us in a difficult financial situation.
"We still have challenges - it is even more difficult than before."
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In total, the IOC were thought to have contrubuted around $14 million (£10 million/€13 million) for Sochi 2014.
Around half of this amount was on transportation.
This comes alongside around $18 million (£12.5 million/€16 million) contributed by the IIHF for Sochi.
Fasel is confident they can reduce the transportation and insurance costs for Pyeongchang 2018, and estimates the total figure will come to around $10 million (£7 million/€9 million) this time around.
This is not easy, however, due to the long journey and time difference from North America to South Korea as well as the risk of injury at a crucial point in the season.
Part of the reason for the IOC decision is thought to relate to a worry that professional bodies in other sports will seek similar financial support, including in tennis, basketball, golf and, potentially, baseball should it be added to the Olympic programme for Tokyo 2020.
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