Ice hockey - Women's world championship cancelled over coronavirus outbreak

FILE PHOTO: Ice Hockey - 2019 Women's IIHF World Championship - Final - Finland v United States - Espoo, Finland - April 14, 2019. Elisa Holopainen of Finland and Brianna Decker of the U.S. in action. Lehtikuva/Mikko Stig via REUTERS/File Photo

(Reuters) - The women's world ice hockey championship set for this month in Halifax and Truro, Nova Scotia, has been cancelled over concerns about the coronavirus outbreak, the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) said on Saturday.

"Due to the ongoing spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), the IIHF Council has agreed today to cancel the 2020 IIHF Ice Hockey Women’s World Championship, following a recommendation by public health experts," the IIHF said in a statement posted on Twitter.