About Riga Hockey Cup 2022

We are working hard on Riga Hockey Cup 2022, but continuously changing situation and restrictions due to Covid-19 makes it hard to finalize all plans.
The current rules allow the tournament to be held based on the current situation and restrictions, taking into account that it will be necessary to comply with the COVID-19 protocol for sporting events however, participants and visitors will have to follow the COVID-19 protocol of the tournament.

Now we are working on coordinating the COVID-19 protocol of the tournament with the responsible authorities, after obtaining approval, we will inform you of its conditions.

COVID-19 restrictions

The current emergency situation in Latvia is applicable until February 28^th at the moment.
Good news — youth sport is allowed, but only with a negative test.

All participants (players and team officials) must show a negative test taken within 72 hours before arrival in Latvia. Another test (on teams own expenses) must be taken within 24 hours after arrival. This test will be taken on Thursday evening till 20:00 and will be organized by the tournament organizers.

No other tests are required during the tournament, unless required due to specific circumstances.
EXCEPTION:
For the U-13/U-15 tournament (4 days) an extra test must be taken on Sunday.
In case of a positive test the individual player or team official is suspended from the tournament. This person has to stay in quarantine according to Latvian rules.
The team of the positive tested player is still entitled to play in the tournament.
Only if 5 or more COVID 19 cases are detected in a team (players and team officials included), organizers will decide about further participation in the tournament.

Parents etc are welcome to visit the game, but need to be in possession of a valid 72 hrs negative test, that must be showed before entrance to arena.

Standard rules for travelling to Latvia are applicable to accompanying adults/parents etc. Another test (on parents own expenses) must be taken within 24 hours after arrival. This test will be taken on Thursday evening till 20:00 and will be organized by the tournament organizers in cooperation with E.Gulbs laboratory.

COVID-19 restrictions impact on the tournament

More than 230 teams have already applied to Riga Hockey Cup 2022. Hopefully all teams will be able and actually will arrive, but we are living in unsure times.
However, the continuously changing restrictions make it hard to prepare the tournament schedule at the moment. Several teams applied lately, others cancel their participation.

The tournament may differ from the past years, but we have to follow guidelines as given to organize a safe tournament.

This means:

1. Minimize the movement of the teams.
2. Keep the individual (age) groups as much as possible in the same arena during 1 day.
3. Try to avoid mixed (age) groups in the same arena.
4. Award presentation after each individual final (no overcrowding).

In the past we have tried to avoid schedules with just 1 game for 1 team on a specific day. This year it might happen more often, so we can avoid too much travelling between arenas or situations when too many teams are in a specific arena.
Another consequence might be shorter days and/or less time in between games, but playing in different arenas.

In the years we published game schedule approximately 6 weeks before each tournament. This year we ask you to be patient. The game schedule will be published a week before the tournament, so that we can avoid numerous amendments in the scedule, because of several reasons (last minute cancellations from teams, changing restrictions from local authorities etc).

Enclosed you will find current Covid-19 protocol (draft) (minor changes might follow as few points are still under discussion).

We hope this clarifies the situation at the moment. Do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions left.

Kind regards,
Janis Jansons