On May 18, 2005, Russia won their first title by defeating the Czech Republic 5 2 at the inaugural European Championship of the International Standing Ice Hockey Federation (ISIHF).
The championships were held May 17-18, at the Olympia World Stadium, Innsbruck, Austria. This newly renovated arena, which played host to the recent ISIHF Senior World Championship, continued its role as Russia, the Czech Republic, and bronze medalist Latvia contested for European honors.
Internationally there are six countries currently fielding standing ice hockey teams, including Canada, Finland, and the US. A classification system, developed during the two World Championships in 2003 and 2004, is used to establish equality on the ice, keep the game exciting, and allow equity for arm and leg amputees to play this sport, which is easily adopted by novice amputees, especially children. The ISIHF uses International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) rules of play.
On May 17, the 2005 ISIHF Congress, in cooperation with the International Paralympics Committee's Ice Hockey Executive Committee, was held at the Hotel Binders in Innsbruck. At this congress, the member delegates voted to admit Latvia as the ISIHF's newest member associate.
Guests and delegates of the 2005 ISIHF congress were greeted by Michael Bielowski, vice mayor of Innsbruck; Peter Schramm, vice president of the Austrian Ice Hockey Association; Harald Springfeld, Organizing Committee of the 2005 IIHF World Championship; Helmut Wurm, director of Olympia World, Innsbruck; Tiziana Nasi, president of the Organizing Committee, 2006 Winter Paralympic Games in Turin; Michael Knaus, IPC Alpine Skiing; Thomas Goodings, vice chairperson of the IPC Ice Hockey Committee; Mark Pitkin, president of ISIHF.
The ISIHF would like to thank the Austrian Paralympic Committee and the Austrian and Tiroler Ice Hockey Associations for sanctioning the European Championships, and would like to recognize the organizers and supporters of the event, Tiroler Ice Hockey Associations, and the City of Innsbruck.
