The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) is the governing body for ice hockey, founded on 15 May 1908 in Paris, France. Its main role is to oversee, develop, and promote ice hockey worldwide, including both men's and women's competitions. The IIHF is responsible for establishing the rules, managing international player transfers, and organising a range of international ice hockey tournaments, including the IIHF World Championships and overseeing ice hockey at the Winter Olympics.
The IIHF has its headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland, and comprises 84 member nations. These members are categorised into two groups: full members, who participate regularly in IIHF events and have voting rights, and associate members, who have limited participation in championships. The federation's structure is governed by its General Congress, which decides on matters related to the rules of the game and elects the IIHF president and council.
One of the key roles of the IIHF is to organise various ice hockey tournaments. These include the men's and women's World Championships, junior tournaments such as the U20 and U18 World Championships, and club competitions like the Champions Hockey League. Additionally, the IIHF plays a key role in promoting the development of young players, coaches, and game officials across the globe.
The IIHF also maintains the IIHF World Ranking, which reflects the performance of national teams over time. The federation supports various developmental efforts aimed at growing the sport, particularly in regions where ice hockey is less established.
In 1997, the IIHF created its own Hall of Fame, located within the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto, Canada, to honour players, coaches, and officials who have contributed significantly to the sport. Over the years, the IIHF has made efforts to increase its membership, bringing in countries from diverse regions, including Africa, Asia, and South America.
The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) oversees several disciplines within the sport of ice hockey. These include men's ice hockey, women's ice hockey, and junior ice hockey competitions.
Men's ice hockey is the most widely played and recognised discipline, with major tournaments such as the IIHF Men's World Championship and the Winter Olympic Games. These tournaments attract teams from all over the world, competing at various levels based on ranking and skill.
Women's ice hockey has also gained significant growth and international participation. The IIHF Women's World Championship and the Winter Olympic Games feature this discipline, showcasing teams from around the globe.
Junior ice hockey is divided into categories such as the U20 and U18 age groups. These categories allow younger players to compete at international levels, promoting the development of ice hockey talent from a young age. The IIHF organises World Championships for these junior categories to give future generations experience on the global stage.
In addition to these, the IIHF was previously involved in the governance of inline hockey, although it stopped overseeing this discipline in 2019.
The IIHF is also responsible for organising club-level competitions, such as the Champions Hockey League and the Continental Cup. These tournaments bring together the best club teams from Europe to compete for international titles.
The IIHF has two categories of membership: full members and associate members. These categories are determined by the level of participation and organisation within each country's national ice hockey association.
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