World Championship Group A 2020 in Irkutsk, Russia, was postponed due to the Covid19 pandemic.
Irkutsk will instead be able to host the World Championship when it becomes possible for Russia to participate in international tournaments again.
March 2020 – a moment in life that never will be forgotten.
I had a rather unusual experience when I should represent the Federation of International Bandy on site in Irkutsk, Russia, during the two World Championships for Men in March 2020. I spent time during the B-group tournament together with Thony Lindqvist, Sweden, a legendary player and leader in both Sweden and Russia. He had a mission with Evgeniy Epifanov, Germany. On behalf of FIB they should gather knowledge and views from the B nations regarding thoughts on the development of the future bandy World Championships.
Our plan was to oversee Group B between 1 and 6 of March, then go back home for a couple of weeks and return to Irkutsk when Group A was to be played at the end of the month. The World Championship for Group B was played as planned and Hungary was the winning team. But during the tournament, reports came that a new virus spread across the world. We flew back home as planned to await that second trip to Irkutsk.
But nothing turned out as planned. After returning home, the WHO announced that the spread of the covid virus was classified as a pandemic. No one on earth will ever forget what then followed. During the first two years, 4.9 million deaths were recorded worldwide. It took three years, on the 5th of May 2023, until the WHO declared that COVID-19 no longer constitutes a global health emergency. There was no return trip to Irkutsk as planned of course. The World Championship Men Group A was postponed, but not cancelled.
So I am still looking forward to enjoy Irkutsk once more. But peace is needed this time for that to happen.
