Calgary is set to host the IIHF Women's World Championship in August ©Getty Images

The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) has confirmed Calgary will host the postponed Women's World Championship in August after the event was delayed due to a surge in COVID-19 cases.

The tournament had been due to take place from May 6 to 16 in the eastern Canadian city Halifax, before the local Government ruled it could not go ahead as a result of COVID-19 concerns.

Hockey Canada and the IIHF confirmed it had been rescheduled for August 20 to 31.

"Despite the unfortunate cancellation of the IIHF Women's World Championship in April, Hockey Canada's ongoing priority has been to host the event this year, and we have remained committed to running a world-class event in Canada," said Hockey Canada President and chief of operations Scott Smith.

"A tremendous amount of work and collaboration with Alberta Health and Alberta Health Services has taken place to ensure the event will be held in a safe and secure manner."

Canada is set to host the Championship for the eighth time ©Getty Images
Canada is set to host the Championship for the eighth time ©Getty Images

It will be the eighth time Canada has hosted the Championship, the last coming when the city of Kamloops held the event in 2016.

Halifax and Truro were set to stage the 2020 Championship before its cancellation because of the pandemic.

The two cities' hosting of the event was deferred to 2021.

Hockey Canada said teams arriving in Calgary would go straight into quarantine before practices and pre-tournament games as the country emerges from COVID-19 restrictions.

Calgary recently hosted the Men's and Women's World Curling Championships using a hub system.