Parents of young hockey players, athletes, and coaches in Uzbekistan have once again appealed to the authorities to resolve the issue with hockey infrastructure. According to them, the Humo Arena ice rink has not been operational for half a year, the hockey academy is closed, and the Tashkent Select club has been liquidated. As a result, more than three hundred children have lost regular opportunities to play hockey.
A copy of the collective appeal was sent to the Podrobno.uz editorial office by parents, athletes, coaches, and the children themselves. The document, dated October 31, is addressed to the Ministry of Sport, the National Olympic Committee, the Presidential Administration, the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), and the prosecutor's office.
The authors of the appeal point out that currently, only one ice rink is available in Tashkent—the rink at the NEXT shopping and entertainment center. Nevertheless, due to the large number of visitors to this rink, there is practically no free time for full-fledged training sessions, and the quality of the ice is assessed as unsatisfactory.
The problem affects not only youth sections but also professional athletes. The statement emphasizes that the Uzbekistan national team won the 2026 World Championship title, and the 'Humo' hockey club won the domestic championship. Despite these achievements, the appeal participants assert that the current champions do not have the necessary conditions for quality preparation.
Of particular concern is the situation of young athletes: over 300 children who have played hockey for many years can no longer regularly get on the ice. Parents note that they invested funds in their children's training and equipment, expecting their further sporting growth.
The appeal participants state that they have attempted to elicit a response from the relevant agencies over the past six months by sending letters and visiting reception offices, but no concrete decisions have been made so far.
The authors warn of a possible failure to hold the Uzbekistan Championship for the 2026/2027 season due to the lack of suitable conditions. They demand an inspection of the state of the hockey infrastructure, a legal assessment of the actions of responsible persons, ensuring athletes have an ice zone, and preventing problems with the country's membership in the IIHF.
The appeal contains a plea: 'We beg you: save hockey, give our children back the ice, do not let the dream die, do not allow the suspension of IIHF membership.'
Previously, in August 2026, parents, fans, and representatives of the sports community appealed to President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Saida Mirziyoyeva requesting support for the 'Humo' hockey club and to maintain the possibility of training on the Humo Arena ice. At that time, it was reported that after the arena stopped operating, the main facilities for training youth and national teams became unavailable.
Following this appeal, a meeting dedicated to the development of hockey was held at the National Olympic Committee on August 7, where issues of club support, infrastructure development, and preparing national teams for international tournaments were discussed. However, no specific measures were announced then regarding the resumption of Humo Arena operations or the provision of ice.
Nearly three months later, representatives of the hockey community reiterate that this problem remains unresolved.
