MOSCOW, August 14. /TASS/. Men’s and women’s ice hockey will be included in the program for the next Olympic Winter Games in Beijing in 2022, the press service of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) told TASS on Tuesday.

TSN and NBC hockey commentator Gord Miler tweeted earlier, citing IIHF Hockey President Rene Fasel, that the IOC was looking at four options for ice hockey in the next Olympic Games, namely no NHL players; the same player pool as 2018; under 23 players; and no hockey at all.

"The Executive Board of the International Olympic Committee on 18 July 2018 approved the event programme for the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 that includes Women’s and Men’s Ice Hockey. The Women’s tournament will include two additional teams contributing to gender equality in the Olympic Winter Games programme," the IOC press service said.

At the latest Olympic Winter Games in South Korea’s PyeongChang, 12 men’s teams competed for the title, with no NHL players taking part. Russia won the tournament.

The Olympic Winter Games in Beijing will he held from February 4 through February 20, 2022.