NHL: Decision On 2018 Olympics By January, Bettman Says

MONTREAL, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 15th Nov, 2016 ) : National Hockey League commissioner Gary Bettman said Monday that a decision will come by January about whether the league will shut down to allow players to compete in the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics.

NHL players have been a staple in the Winter Olympics since 1998 at Nagano, with the league taking a two-week mid-season break to allow the world's greatest players to represent their home countries and compete for Olympic gold.

But the timetable for a decision was announced because the league is already working on dates for the 2017-18 schedule and Olympic and global ice hockey officials must have time for a new plan if the NHL says no to going to South Korea in 2018.

"Whether it's January 1 or 15th or 20th, that's not the issue," Bettman said in a posting on the league's website. "This isn't drifting into the spring." A major hurdle to a sixth consecutive Olympics for NHL talent in 15 months is the $10 million in insurance, travel and accommodation costs for players and guests.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) covered them for Nagano, Salt Lake City, Turin, Vancouver and Sochi but has indicated to the NHL and International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) it will not do so this time. The IIHF met with the IOC last week and will meet with NHL officials on Wednesday.