IIHF President Luc Tardif informed the Semi-Annual Congress that the inclusion of a 3x3 hockey tournament would significantly increase Olympic participation, adding 16 more teams (eight men's and eight women's) and bringing an additional 240 athletes to the Winter Games. Inspired by the success of similar compact sports like 3x3 basketball and rugby sevens at the recent Paris Games, there's a strong conviction that 3x3 hockey holds significant potential for attracting new fans and boosting global participation in the sport. Furthermore, it would double the number of medals awarded in ice hockey, which is already the largest sport at the Winter Olympics in terms of athlete involvement and competition duration.
