30 April-15 May 2005

This year Austria is holding the Ice Hockey World Championship at the country's top two sporting venues: Vienna's Stadthalle and Innsbruck's Olympic Ice Hall. For ice hockey lovers the championship is the top international invent on the calendar after the Olympic Games and offers a feast of high-energy ice skating and puck power. All the worlds top players will be there representing their countries as 16 national teams clash sticks for the world title. Current champions Canada have their work cut out with excellent squads from the USA, Russia, Denmark and Slovakia taking part. The tournament begins with a group phase with the 16 divided into groups of four who battle it out among themselves between 30 April and 5 May for a place in the second round. Vienna and Innsbruck host the second round games from 6 to 10 May with quarter-finals in Vienna on 10 May, the semis on 14 May and the final on 15 May. Tickets cost from _10 to _380.