Norovirus Delays Winter Olympics Ice Hockey Match
February 9, 2026
Last week, a women’s ice hockey match between Finland and Canada at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics was postponed after medics identified norovirus.
The preliminary match was set to take place Feb. 5 until cases of norovirus were found among the Team Finland camp, Sky News reported. Finland won bronze at the last two Winter Olympics, and the match with Canada is highly anticipated.
A statement from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said: “The decision was taken following consultations with medical professionals after cases of norovirus were identified within Team Finland. It was made collectively and in accordance with established health and safety principles, with the health and wellbeing of players, team staff, officials, and all tournament participants as the highest priority.”
The IOC added that the move was “responsible and necessary” and reflected the “integrity” of the competition.
Reuters reported the Finland team cancelled practice on Feb. 4 and said the team had isolated the sick players plus any team members who shared a room with them. The norovirus outbreak left 13 members of their roster, including their entire Professional Women’s Hockey League cohort, sick or quarantined.
Still, Finland played Team USA on Saturday and will face the Canadians on Feb. 12.
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