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Winter sports: top cross-country skiing nations are foregoing World Cups because of Corona

2020-12-03T06:56:54.893Z


The best three cross-country nations are no longer at the start this year. After Norway, Swedes and Finns are also doing without for fear of Corona. National coach Peter Schlickenriede criticizes the world association.


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Norway's cross-country star Therese Johaug

Photo: Emmi Korhonen / imago images / Lehtikuva

The corona pandemic is causing ever greater problems in winter sports.

While in cross-country skiing after the Norwegians around their superstars Johannes Kläbo and Therese Johaug, the Swedes and Finns also forego starting at the upcoming World Cups in Davos and Dresden, other competitions were canceled at the same time.

For example, the World Championships for snowboarders and ski freestylers planned for February 2021 in China were canceled on Wednesday as well as the pre-Olympic World Cups for alpine ski racers, ski jumpers, Nordic combined and cross-country skiers.

Previously, other World Cups in various winter sports had been canceled due to Corona.

Like the Norwegian cross-country skiers, the Finns and Swedes are also afraid of becoming infected with the corona virus.

This means that three of the most successful ski nations are staying away from the competitions in Saxony and Switzerland.

Team doctor Per Andersson said on Wednesday, according to a message from the Swedish Ski Association, that it is currently not possible to guarantee a safe return trip to and from Dresden and Davos.

Neither the Finnish, nor the Swedish or the Norwegian ski associations have yet decided whether their teams will compete in the Tour de Ski in Switzerland and Italy in January 2021.

Unlike the three top nations, the German cross-country team will contest the World Cup in Davos.

“We'll occupy all launch sites.

We have a good concept and are well positioned, ”said national coach Peter Schlickenrieder.

When asked how the FIS World Federation reacted to the special situation by rejecting the favorites, Schlickenrieder said: “As always: not at all.

That is an indictment of what is happening right now. "Schlickenrieder has been grumbling for weeks about the" non-corona-compatible "competition planning and now sees himself confirmed.

According to FIS information, the decision to cancel the World Championships for snowboarders and freestylers from February 18 to 28 came from the Chinese Ski Association and the Organizing Committee for the 2022 Olympics in Beijing.

Actually, many events this winter should be dress rehearsals for the Winter Games in Asia.

Above all, the 14-day quarantine, which is mandatory when entering China, was the reason for the World Cup cancellation - just like for the World Cup cancellations by the Fis.

Previously, the pre-Olympic test competitions for speed skaters, short trackers and figure skaters in Beijing had been canceled.

Icon: The mirror

ara / dpa

Source: spiegel

All sports articles on 2020-12-03

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