HELSINKI – The last venue of the 2012 & 2013 IIHF World Championships that will be co-hosted by Finland and Sweden is known. Helsinki will be Finland’s host city not only in 2012, but also in 2013.

Tampere was also a candidate for the secondary venue of the 2013 IIHF World Championship, but as the new arena project Keskusareena in downtown Tampere will be delayed, the Organizing Committee decided to use Helsinki’s Hartwall Arena also in 2013.

Stockholm’s Globen Arena will be Sweden’s venue in 2012 and 2013.

Both Helsinki and Stockholm will host one group each consisting of eight teams, a change of the IIHF World Championship format as of 2012. Quarter-finals will be played within the groups in both cities while all semi-finals and medal games will be played in the main venue, Helsinki in 2012 and Stockholm in 2013.

The Finnish Ice Hockey Association considers hosting a World U20 Championship or a World U18 Championship in Tampere once the new arena is constructed. The investors behind the Keskusareena hope to have the arena ready for the 2014-2015 season.

The two eight-team groups for the 2012 IIHF World Championship will be announced following the gold medal game in Bratislava on May 15.

For more information visit www.iihfworlds2012.com.