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Since 1989, Östersund has repeatedly hosted world-class biathlon competitions, but 2020 will be an exception.
Due to the entry ban for unnecessary travel to Sweden from countries other than EU countries, Great Britain, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland, the IBU International Biathlon Federation has chosen to appoint Kontiolahti, Finland and Hochfilzen, Austria , as organizers when the number of the world cups was reduced from four to two.
– I am disappointed that the government has not chosen to make an exception for elite athletes. So that Americans and Russians can enter the country. That I don’t get an answer on that question, I think it’s sad. If Finland can organize competitions, I think they can also do it in Östersund, says Sebastian Samuelsson to SVT.
According to the Swedish Sports Confederation, The Swedish Biathlon Federation and the organizer of the competition in Östersund, the Swedish government has not provided any information and has barely been able to reach the issue of the state of emergency for foreign elite athletes.
This was crucial because Östersund got the IBU nob, says Samuelsson.
– I think Östersund would have had great opportunities to keep the competitions if they could have made an exception similar to the one they made in Finland for elite athletes, people who go to the country and just work.
Minister of Culture and Sports Amanda Lind (MP) has come under fire during the crown crisis, among other things for not sufficiently meeting the needs of the sports movement.
Sebastian Samuelsson can only agree.
– During the corona pandemic, it has become very clear that we do not have a pure sports minister and that sports are not taken seriously. It doesn’t seem like he is knowledgeable enough on these issues, he tells SVT.
