The Junior World Floorball Championship, which was to take place in Brno at the end of April and beginning of May, has been moved to a later date this summer. The Moravian metropolis will now welcome the best teams in the world from 25 to 29 August 2021. The International Floorball Federation (IFF) made this decision in response to the current pandemic situation and its development.

There are currently very strict anti-epidemic measures in place around the world, which complicate the travel of national teams to the Czech Republic, as well as their return back. The IFF in cooperation with Czech floorball took into account the fact that the situation should be more favourable in the summer months, which gives the tournament more organisation opportunities, including easier travel of foreign teams. Higher vaccination coverage of the population could help.

“When looking for a new date, we took into account that it should interfere as little as possible with the new season and we also aimed to respect the sporting aspect of the players and their training. The current season is set to peak in June, players will thus be able to rest and start training, which they would have completed in the same way with regard to the beginning of a new season,” explained Tomáš Frank, General Secretary of Czech Floorball.

The new term also respects the accessibility of the Vodova hall in Brno, which is home to the championship. At the same time, at the end of August, sufficiently large accommodation capacities are available for players and the staff teams to ensure the maximum possible comfort and also opportunities to create any tournament bubbles.

“The Junior World Championships is the top of the youth category and we want as many athletes as possible to take part in the championship. Of course, we are sorry that the current situation does not allow the tournament in the original term, but we will all work to make the championship in August possible to the highest possible standard,” commented Frank.