NHL commissioner Gary Bettman reaffirmed his concerns about the NHL’s involvement in the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics but said that the decision is being taken on a “day-by-day” basis.
The NHL conceded that players will be allowed to go to the Olympics in CBA re-negotiations ahead of the bubble playoffs in the summer of 2020 after players did not participate in 2018. A full agreement on player participation was reached in September.
However, ongoing issues with the COVID-19 pandemic, the three-week disruption to the season and human rights concerns in China are just some of the reasons for the NHL’s participation continues to be questioned. On Friday, Bettman said the league intends to keep its promise with the players unless coronavirus outbreaks make it impossible to do so.
Many have pointed to Jan. 10 as the day for the NHL to decide whether players will be going to Beijing but deputy commissioner Bill Daly said that isn’t necessarily the case. While the NHL may be impacted financially by pulling out of the Games after that date, the option to withdraw will remain.
Daly added that the NHL has yet to receive the final book of rules and regulations from the committee in charge of the Beijing Olympics, meaning there is still no clarity on what pandemic restrictions will be in place on the ground in China.
The Winter Games open Feb. 3 and conclude Feb. 20.
