Copenhagen, Denmark/Zug, Switzerland – Infront Sports & Media, the leading international sports marketing company, has entered a partnership with the Danish Ice Hockey Association in its role as host of the 2018 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship – supporting with the organisation of the event in a 50/50 joint venture. The tournament will be staged across the two host cities of Copenhagen and Herning, from 4-20 May 2018.
As part of the Local Organising Committee (LOC), Infront will contribute its extensive know-how from the delivery of previous IIHF Ice Hockey World Championships to ensure the smooth running of the event. The company will support in the event organisation and planning as well as share its commercial expertise for national sponsorship marketing.
Henrik Bach Nielsen, President of the Danish Ice Hockey Association, commented: “Denmark has played in the top division of international ice hockey for over a decade now and the excitement of hosting the IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship in 2018 reflects our national passion for the sport. It is both an honour and a challenge to host an international tournament of this size and scope and we are highly optimistic – being able to rely on the trusted experience and know-how of Infront. A successful staging of the event will build the base for the continued development of the sport in Denmark and our formation of high-calibre ice hockey talent.”
Long term experience delivering ultimate success
Bruno Marty, Infront’s Executive Director Winter Sports, said: “Our proven experience and success in supporting national organising committees as well as collaborating directly with the IIHF has enabled us to gather considerable know-how in the patterns, processes and recurring challenges of the event. Carrying this expertise forward fosters the status of the IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship as the biggest annual winter sports event and results in success: for the host country, the global ice hockey community and all commercial partners involved. We look forward to helping to stage this major international event in Denmark and to transmitting the sports fascination of the country to the world.”
Over the years, Infront has supported the organising committees of many previous IIHF Ice Hockey World Championships, either as a joint venture partnership or in an advisory role. Following the 2018 event, Infront will support the Slovak Ice Hockey Federation in its role as host of the 2019 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship and the Swiss Ice Hockey Federation for the event in 2020. In 2017, Infront partners with the co-hosting German and French Ice Hockey Federations to stage the tournament in Cologne and Paris.
About Infront Sports & Media
Infront Sports & Media is the most respected sports marketing company in the world, managing a comprehensive portfolio of top properties. Led by President & CEO Philippe Blatter, Infront covers all aspects of successful sporting events – including distribution of media rights, sponsorship, media production and event operation – and has won a reputation for its high standards of delivery. As the number one player in winter sport and with a leading role in football, summer and endurance sports, Infront enjoys long-lasting partnerships with 160 rights-holders and hundreds of sponsors and media companies. Headquartered in Zug, Switzerland, Infront has a team of 600 experienced staff working from 25 offices across 13 countries, delivering 4,000 event days of top class sport around the world every year.
