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“Abrazo!” Says Buenos Aires, as the World Skate Inline Hockey arrives to a warm Argentinian embrace.

National teams from around the world have arrived in this unique and special city in South America to compete for the World Skate Inline Hockey World Championships.

Following on from the triumphant return last year after the worldwide pandemic, and a super successful World Games tournament earlier this year, we finally arrive in the continent of South America. And Argentina has proved themselves ready to host the show! Located in the Parque Olimpico de la Juventud, Junior and Senior Men and Women will contend for the ultimate prize in Inline Hockey. The venue boasts two rinks, named the Europa Pavilion, and the Africa Pavilion.

World Skate Technical Commission Chair Andrea Fonzari is very excited to see the games arrive here: “Local organisers have worked very hard to welcome the World Skate family, in the very best way possible” Said Fonzari and commented on the atmosphere that is building around the games, just as official team training begins in earnest today: “Everyone is feeling ready to play, to compete, to battle for the medals. The smell’ of Inline Hockey is in the air”.

Inline hockey continues to run on a high following the most recent two senior competitions. But we now see a very welcome return for the junior teams to elite international competition. And additionally, the return of many teams that could not make it last year to Roccaraso. Fonzari stated: “Now I can only be excited after so much work behind the scenes to make these games happen, and to see all the players and teams return to compete again. We now have everything we need in place for a memorable World Skate Inline Hockey Championships. Now it’s time for the players to do the work, it is their time! May the best teams win!”

The teams arrive in Buenos Aires following an exciting World Games event, where team USA claimed the top prize in an epic battle with the perennial greats of hockey, Czechia. USA will want to maintain their momentum across all competitions, including the Women. Alison Era from team USA senior women squad stated publicly: “We have come off a hot three year streak, and it hurt last year to lose our title. We are looking forward to getting some redemption and getting our title back”.

Team USA are certainly one team to watch across all the competitions, but they are joined by an ever strengthening and wider field of competition nations. In the Junior competitions, Teams such as France, Czech Republic, USA and Italy are all expected to perform strongly, they are up against some fantastic emerging talent, particularly from South America, where Inline Hockey is really taking off. Teams like Colombia and Brazil will be extra motivated, but none more so than hosts Argentina, who should expect to enjoy tremendous home support from the fans. And don’t forget Namibia, who have been representing Africa in excellent fashion, and performed above expectations last year.

At senior level, in the Women’s competition it would be hard to look past the holders France, who won last year in an outstanding display of talent. This has only served to recharge the Americans, who are determined to reclaim their long held and deserved titles over the years. These teams would both be mistaken to discount the Spanish, Italians, and of course the mighty Canadian team, who hold so much expectation from their hockey obsessed nation. All of them must first overcome some very tricky matches with their South American contenders, who with local support may play like they have an extra player, and could cause upsets for all teams.

Of course, in the Mens competition the astonishingly professional and athletic Czech team will hope to retain their title, convincingly won last year in Italy. However, that competition lacked the USA men's team, who beat them in a modern classic of Inline while at home in Birmingham for the World Games. But this is the World Championships, and there are very strong teams who are more than capable of upsetting the script. Watch for Canada to come back strong, Slovakia to quietly march their way through the early rounds, and any of Spain, Italy and Switzerland could be extremely dangerous when they get a sniff of victory. No one will want to face Argentina lightly, with home advantage and much to prove, watch their opening match vs Canada for an indication of their potential.

The wildcards in the senior mens should also be very interesting, as they work towards a promotion into the top tier seeding of competition. Japan could definitely surprise a few teams, and certainly Ireland, Germany and Mexico have the potential to make great strides forward here too. Once again, Brazil, and Uruguay will feel very close to home and should play to prove it.

Throughout every level of this competition there is excitement and drama to be found. World Skate invites you to join them in celebrating the World Championships with them online, and live streamed for select matches. Stay tuned in to the World Skate website and follow along with Worldskate.rsportz for all the scheduled games, results, statistics and more.

Don’t forget that there are also a number of other Inline sports competing as part of these games, so if you love Inline, check out also the Artistic, Alpine, Downhill, freestyle, Rink Hockey, Roller Derby and Scootering competitions at the same time. Details for all the above on the World Skate website.

Fonzari is looking forward: “The Argentinean setting is welcoming us all, offering us the highest quality games we have ever yet seen. We will finally return to competition with the Junior Men's and Women's Championships, categories that have unfortunately paid the highest price for two difficult years. World Skate unites 12 different world sports, incorporating the needs of all. We are the only International Sporting Body in the world with the potential to organise our own Mini Olympics. We must be proud of this and exploit this enormous potential for overall development.”

The inline Hockey begins on Monday 24th October, with the Senior Women’s and the Junior Men’s competition, with the playoffs and finals from Thursday 27th through to Sunday 30th. Senior Men’s and Junior Women’s competition begins the following Monday 31st October, and the playoffs from Friday to Sunday the 5th and 6th November.

Inline Hockey is continuing to grow worldwide, and with ever more exposure and the increase in talent and potential from a widening base, all while retaining that unique and valuable grassroots appeal, the game is on the rise.

So we hope you will join World Skate, and the ever expanding world of Inline, in celebrating and enjoying the drama of these world Championships. Let the games Begin!

Words by Pete Wirt
Photo Credits: Marco Guariglia

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