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From: TT
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State epidemiologist Anders Tegnell praises Vasaloppet’s solution for next year’s event.
A solution that means the nine-mile ski slopes will be turned into a ski resort.
– We are opening a new business, a ski resort open for three weeks, says Johan Eriksson, acting CEO of Vasaloppet.
Not far from the start of Vasaloppet in the Sälen area, there are several ski resorts for downhill skiing. They are available to anyone who wants to put on their alpine skis and slow down on the slopes.
Similarly, the Vasaloppet cross-country track will be converted into a temporary ski resort for a period of three weeks. There, thousands of skiers will be able to go to Vasaåket with goals as usual in Mora. Something that TT and SVT revealed Thursday morning.
That the organizer does it this way is because sporting events are public events for which a permit is required in accordance with the Public Order Law.
– In principle, we have a corporate ban as a sports organizer, like all other cultural and sporting events. What we do is we open a new business, we quit sports in the sense that we don’t host any competitions this winter except for two events, the elite class from Tjejvasan and the elite class from Vasaloppet, says Eriksson.
Competition + round of exercises
Photo: Amir Nabizadeh / TT
Anders Tegnell, a state epidemiologist with the Swedish Public Health Agency. Stock Photography.
In practice, this means that during Vasaloppet Sunday, March 7, only 400 elite skiers will start in the Vasaloppet competition. After that, 5,000 athletes run the nine miles in Vasaåket like any round of training at a ski resort. Other athletes can complete their races (10, 30, 45 or 90 kilometers) during the period from February 12 to March 7.
State epidemiologist Anders Tegnell believes the solution is a good one.
– We have had a dialogue with them and how to do it in a reasonable way. I think they have found very innovative ways to reduce congestion and there will be no massive departures, Tegnell tells SVT.
Less risk than before
When asked if he sees any risks with the event, he responds:
– No, not if compared to if he had done what he usually does. It is clear that all meetings now carry risks and it is very important that you think about it. The races are spread out over three to four weeks, so it takes a lot to fill up with people.
While the Vasaloppet organizer does not have to apply for a permit for anything other than the two elite races, he has and will maintain a close dialogue with various authorities such as infection control in Dalarna, the Public Health Agency (FHM) and the care so that it is as infectious as possible.
Delayed message
FHM is conducting an investigation, on behalf of the government, to review whether it is possible to enable races on roads, water and in the forest. The decision on the matter is delayed because FHM will not present the last of its recommendations to the government until December 1.
– It is important to make recommendations on how to have infection-proof arrangements even if exercise itself is not an infection risk, says Karin Tegmark Wisell, FHM department head at Thursday’s press conference.
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