The ice hockey community in Uzbekistan has issued an urgent public appeal to state authorities and international sports bodies regarding the near-total collapse of the nation's winter sports infrastructure. Parents of young athletes, coaches, and professional players reported that the premier sports complex, Humo Arena in Tashkent, has been out of operation for six months. In addition, the youth hockey academy has been shut down and the Tashkent Select club disbanded, leaving more than 300 young prospects without access to regular ice practice.
The formal appeal was submitted to Uzbekistan's Ministry of Sports, the National Olympic Committee, the Presidential Administration, the Prosecutor General's Office, and the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF). Signatories emphasized that the only remaining ice surface available in Tashkent is a commercial rink situated inside the NEXT shopping mall. Due to heavy public skating sessions, scheduling adequate team practices is nearly impossible, while the surface quality itself falls far short of athletic safety standards.
The infrastructure failure impacts both grassroots development and elite sports. Despite the Uzbekistan national team achieving victory in the 2026 World Championship tier and HC Humo winning the domestic championship, the reigning champions now find themselves without an operational base for serious competition preparation. Parents who poured considerable personal resources into specialized equipment and coaching expressed grave concern that years of development are being squandered.
Sports advocates noted that their efforts over the past six months—including petitions, official letters, and meetings with relevant officials—have yielded no tangible solutions. The coalition warned that the upcoming 2026/2027 domestic season faces potential cancellation, which could jeopardize Uzbekistan's standing within the IIHF. The signatories have demanded a formal review of the administrators' actions and the immediate restoration of ice access at Humo Arena.
Source: podrobno.uz