NHL players who participate in Olympics will need to be vaccinated

The logo of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics Kyodo News

NHL players who participate in 2022 Beijing Olympics will reportedly need to be vaccinated against COVID-19

By Erin Walsh | Last updated 9/3/21

The NHL and NHLPA are reportedly finalizing an agreement with the International Olympic Committee and the International Ice Hockey Federation for participation in the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, according to Sports Business Journal.

As part of the agreement, NHL players who participate in the Olympics will need to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

The @NHL and @NHLPA are finalizing an agreement with the IOC and the @IIHFHockey for participation in the 2022 Beijing Games.

Sources indicated that as part of that agreement, all NHL players "who participate in the @Olympics will need to be vaccinated."

(via @espn) pic.twitter.com/Bc9pAUV76P
— Sports Business Journal (@sbjsbd) September 3, 2021

The NHL skipped the PyeongChang Olympics in 2018 after it was unable to reach a deal with the IOC. A change in an IOC policy meant that player insurance, transportation costs, and accommodation, valued at $15 million to $20 million, would no longer be covered, as they had been in previous Olympics with NHL participation.

NHL players had previously participated in every Winter Olympics since 1998.

If NHL players are allowed to participate in the Beijing Games, the United States, Canada, Finland, Sweden and the Olympic Athletes from Russia are considered gold medal contenders.

The last time NHL players participated, Canada took home the gold medal at the 2014 Sochi Games, led by Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby and Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price.

The Olympic Athletes from Russia won gold at the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics, led by former NHLers Ilya Kovalchuk and Pavel Datsyuk.

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