Efforts to include 3x3 hockey as an event at the 2030 Olympics are approaching a critical stage. Since the 2017/18 season, the IIHF has been actively developing a 3x3 tournament format, conducting trials with various setups at the Youth Olympic Games in Lausanne 2020 and Gangneung 2024. More recently, test events involving experienced players have been held in several countries, and another tournament is planned for Brazil in November.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is currently accepting proposals for new disciplines for the 2030 Winter Games in France, and the IIHF is preparing its submission before the January 2025 deadline. A decision from the IOC is anticipated in March.
IIHF President Luc Tardif informed the Semi-Annual Congress that the addition of a 3x3 hockey tournament would lead to the participation of 16 more teams (eight men's and eight women's), bringing an additional 240 athletes to the Olympic Winter Games. Inspired by the success of similar compact sports like 3x3 basketball and rugby sevens at the recent Paris Games, there is a strong belief that 3x3 hockey can significantly attract new audiences and increase global participation. It would also double the number of medals awarded in ice hockey, the Winter Olympics' largest sport by athlete involvement and competition time.
