Norway with fierce criticism of the organizer, but the head of the FIS reveals critical nations for Norway

By Tuesday, the Ski Association said that no athletes will travel to the World Cup in Davos or Dresden. Norway is also not preparing to travel to the Tour de Ski.

And for the first time, cross country coach Espen Bjervig removes the veil around the details that cause Norway to take the drastic step of dropping a series of competitions.

– We feel that we have known an approximate world characterized by coincidences. “We cannot point out the criticisms more clearly when we retire the squad from the World Cup before Christmas,” Bjervig begins.

– Too many coincidences

List a series of points. First linked to tests on arrival.

• When the Norwegian team arrived in Ruka, it all started with the organizer playing with the staff and data that the association had submitted. Bjervig & co. had to process the lists manually. So everyone was logged in correctly when they had to complete the quick tests upon arrival.
• The association reacted strongly to the fact that no infection detection was carried out in relation to the first Eirik Myhr Nossum rapid test, which was positive. Bjervig says the organizer concluded that those who sat in front and behind, and next to Nossum on the plane, were defined as close contacts and quarantined. Then the union decided on its own initiative to quarantine everyone.
• The association did not hear mundane things from the organizer, the Finnish authorities or the FIS after the Nossum test, says Bjervig. He says that they themselves had to ask about everything they were going to do. He also states that the association to date has not received a written response to the 48 rapid tests upon arrival, nor the extra test for Nossum.

– We have only received it orally by phone. This is the documentation we wanted. There were too many coincidences around all this.

In addition, it reacts strongly to what the Norwegian management believes was poor overall compliance with the infection control protocol related to competitions.

He lists:

• The press area was too crowded. It was not two meters away from us in Beitostølen.
• The areas at the start and end were too narrow – athletes would get too close to each other in situations where there is a lot of breathing, spitting and sweating.
• Also, there was little respect for maintaining a distance of two meters, it was “high five”, the support apparatus removed the bandage at the far post, says Bjervig.

– We experienced an arena that we thought would be safer than the one we have there. When you add to this being in airports and traveling in general, the risk becomes too high, says Bjervig, adding:

– There is an infection control protocol that is there. That is ok. But we feel that the fulfillment was accidental. When we said and warned about things that we felt were not right, we felt that we received little attention for it. They believed compliance was within the established framework.

– Has a different opinion

When asked what was said between him and the FIS leadership, Bjervig responds as follows:

– The dialogue between us and FIS must remain between us. We have a different opinion on compliance with the infection control protocol.

Pierre Mignerey is a career director at FIS. He is presented with the discontent of Bjervig and the Norwegian Ski Association. It begins by saying that all comments are welcome.

However, he believes that when it comes to infection control related to competitions, such as the press area, the test area, the secondment station, the destination and start area, in his eyes it worked “quite well” . It notes, among other things, that a narrow press area was expanded.

Among other things, it was not mandatory, but it was strictly recommended to use face masks in these areas. There were examples of some using the mouthpiece incorrectly, but my feeling after Ruka was that this was followed. And when I say I think it was good, I don’t mean perfect.

However, he agrees with Bjervig that the great potential for improvement of the event lies in the testing protocol. Especially the practical implementation.

I think most of the people were happy

Mignerey believes there were too many who had to run a quick test at the same time, there was too much of a wait, and he was not particularly pleased that athletes and support personnel were tested on outdoor camping chairs in a parking lot.

He is also quick to take self-criticism when it comes to the flow of information around a positive test, as was the case in Norway.

– But in the big picture, with the exception of Norway, I think most other nations were happy, says Mignerey.

When asked why he thinks this is the case, Mignerey replies that Norway experienced that Nossum received a false positive corona test.

– It didn’t happen with the other nations. We know that a single event like that can have a huge impact. Then they see things in a more negative way, and in this case it was Nossum’s positive test.

– Have you received reactions from other nations that Norway will leave these contests before Christmas?

– Some people understand and care. Others are critical. I can’t tell who it is. But we know that Norway has the right to decide. We respect that and that we are from different cultures.

– Why are they critical?

– The impression of many nations is that Ruka was far from a disaster. The impression of many was that it was actually good. Some don’t understand Norway, says Mignerey, and explains:

– It is important to understand that for many nations, competing in the World Cup is the only way to do their job and promote their sponsors. Norway does not come to the World Cup, but can organize national competitions that are broadcast on television. They have no chance of that in countries other than Norway, Sweden and Finland.

– Smaller nations are now worried that others will do the same as Norway and fear the World Cup will be canceled. That is why they are essential. They feel that the decision compromises the entire World Cup, says Mignerey.