To Norway

Norwegian cross-country skiers will not participate in any more World Cup races before the New Year. The Norwegian Ski Federation has decided that, and the reason is the crown situation.

Jürg Capol, Marketing Director of the International Ski Federation FIS, responds:

– We need solidarity, he says, and points out that Sweden and Finland have also withdrawn from the World Cup.

– They are not responsible to other nations, declares Capol.

Torbjørn Skogstad, head of the cross country committee, comments on the proposal as follows:

– In no way should we be judges of what others do. It is entirely possible to evaluate this differently. And we have considered it in relation to what is right for us.

It is to the Swedish broadcaster SVT that Capol expresses his discontent with Norway and other nations that have withdrawn from the cross-country skiing World Cup. Currently, there will be no participation in Davos and Dresden. But the Tour de Ski also runs the risk of the absence of Norway.

– We need solidarity. If not, it will be difficult to find organizers in the future, says Capol.

Stand out on World Cup weekends in Davos and Dresden

– Who should be supportive?

– The national teams. I mean: people traveled to Finland, but now some people make this decision. They don’t take responsibility for the economy, they don’t take responsibility for the other national teams. They do it naturally for medical reasons. But in Norway, for example, they competed in Beitostølen a week before the World Cup started, without taking any test.

He continues:

– I don’t understand why they make this decision. Was it bad on Ruka? I can’t say that because I wasn’t there. But if that was the case, then you can’t tell what it’s like in the next place. I cannot argue against a medical person. I can only ask for solidarity with the other unions.

Chaos after Norwegian no

Emphasize that organizers will like:

– Those who get hurt the most are the organizers who have put a lot of money into this. Now they are losing money on marketing and media. It means bankruptcy.

Capol thinks it’s strange that only Norwegian cross-country skiing is pulling out of the World Cup. At the same time, the alpine, combined, jumping and other winter branches continue as before.

– I don’t understand what the difference is. I would have understood if Norway had said that they abandon the season for all winter sports, because the risk of infection is too great. That only one national team does this gives me a bad feeling.

Cross country coach Espen Bjervig texts Dagbladet that he does not want to comment on Capol’s proposal.

– If Jürg has trouble understanding our assessment, I hope he will contact me so we can explain, write.

The leader Torbjørn Skogstad on the cross country committee is clear about the reason why Norway jumps out of the World Cup:

– We have assessed that it is too risky to travel outside of Norway. We have done it in consultation with our doctor who was present in Finland last weekend, he says.

Other nations must make their decisions. This is very difficult and it is entirely possible to evaluate it differently. We have been discussing participation in the World Cup since we were in Beitostølen. We felt it was good to travel to Finland to see how things worked. Now we have done what we believe is right for our practitioners and the apparatus around us.

– Are you surprised that other winter branches in Norway don’t follow in the footsteps of cross-country skiing?

– No, in no way should we be judges of what others do. It is entirely possible to evaluate this differently. We have evaluated it in relation to our situation. We respect all other nations or sports that do it differently.

Arne Scheie: – Terrible

– Do you feel sympathy for the organizers of Davos and Dresden who lose money because the nations are absent, according to Capol?

– Yes. And it’s like I say: this is not easy. We are responsible to the organizers and FIS. But with all of these things in the boat, we’ve still chosen to put our athletes’ health on top. And then the decision has become what it has become.

– Should the World Cup have stopped?

– We are prepared for the World Cup to continue, even if we are not involved. We are very well prepared for this winter season to be completely different from any previous winter season. We do not believe that the World Cup should be stopped because of us. We have made an isolated decision. And then others can do what they think is right. We have not considered this solely on the basis of sports glasses. The doctor was also clear about what he thinks has been suitable for us.

Skogstad says Norway has not set a deadline for when they must say yes or no to participation in the Ski Tour.

The infection situation in Europe is evaluated day by day, he points out