2015 Bandy World Championship 2015 was the XXXVth Bandy World Championship. At the FIB congress held during the XXXIVth World Championship in 2014, it was announced that Khabarovsk in Russia had been elected as host city. It was also decided the Group A tournament would be played around the end of March/beginning of April, which means it would take place when the national bandy leagues in the major bandy playing countries, Finland, Norway, Russia and Sweden, would be finished for the season.[1] Group B was played between February 1 and 6 and hit a new record attendance, already before the match for the bronze and the final.[2]
The mascots of the games were a bear and a tiger, named Тоша and Ероша, were inspired by the animals in the coat of arms of Khabarovsk.[4]
Ukraine refused to take part in the Russian-hosted championship because of the Russian annexation of Crimea the previous year.
Host selection
On 5 December 2013, the Russian news agency AmurMedia (which quoted Russian Internet site Sportbox.ru) reported that the decision on host city was made, after a decision by the working committee of FIB.[5]
Minsk withdrew its candidacy in August 2013.[6] Khabarovsk won over Helsinki because there is an indoor arena in the city.
Participating teams
Participating countries in the Bandy World Championship 2015. Blue: Division A Red: Division B Purple: both divisions Green: members of the Federation of International Bandy not participating in this year's World Championship
Latvia won Division B in 2014 and was thus promoted to Division A for 2015. However, the Latvians made an application to play in Division B this year too, and this was approved by the Federation of International Bandy. Latvia was therefore playing in both divisions this year. This was made possible by the divisions not being played at the same time, Division B was being played in early February while Division A was being played in late March/early April.[7]
