IOC cuts make NHL participation in 2018 Olympics more difficult

The NHL’s involvement in the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics is in doubt due to concerns over expenses following IOC budget cuts.

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The NHL’s involvement in the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics is in doubt due to concerns over expenses, TSN reports.

The IOC has contributed to travel for NHL players to attend and participate in the winter games dating back to 1998 in Nagano. It recently decided to cut back on that spending, including transportation, insurance and accommodations, costs totaling over $20 million.

Both the NHL and International Ice Hockey Federation are worried that the situation is “even more difficult” than before.

“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 toldinsidethegames.com. "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.”

Fasel noted that the players still want to participate in the Olympics and that both sides are still working to find a solution.