HELSINKI – The 2012 and 2013 IIHF World Championships’ general secretary Kimmo Leinonen will step down due to health issues. A new general secretary will be assigned as soon as possible.
 
“Losing Kimmo is a big setback to the organization,” says Kalervo Kummola, chairman of the organizing committee. “The recruiting process for a new general secretary is in its final steps. We should be able to announce the name of our new general secretary next week.”
 
Leinonen himself is disappointed with the fact that his long career in hockey now ends a few years earlier than planned.
 
“I will now step down for a while, but once back in shape I plan to return to the organization in some other capacity. It is still my definite wish to be a part of the tournament hosted here in Finland,” Leinonen says.
 
The 2012 IIHF World Championship will be played May 4-20, 2012, in Helsinki (Finland) and Stockholm (Sweden). Ticket sales and the hiring of volunteers start in April 2011.