Winter sports: the best cross-country skiing nations give up the World Championships because of Corona



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The corona pandemic is causing more and more 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 give up starting the next World Championships in Davos and Dresden, other competitions have been canceled at the same time. For example, the Snowboarder and Freestyler Skiing World Championships scheduled for February 2021 in China, as well as the Pre-Olympic World Championships for Alpine Skiers, Jumpers, Nordic Combined and Cross-Country Skiers, were canceled Wednesday due to the crown.

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

Like Norwegian cross-country skiers, Finns and Swedes are also afraid of being infected with the coronavirus. This means that three of the most successful ski nations stay away from competitions in Saxony and Switzerland. Team doctor Per Andersson said Wednesday, according to a message from the Swedish Ski Association, that a safe return trip to and from Dresden and Davos cannot currently be guaranteed. Neither the Finnish, Swedish or Norwegian ski federations 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 play the World Cup in Davos. “We will occupy all the launch sites. We have a good idea and are well positioned,” said national team 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. This is an indictment of what is happening right now. “Schlickenrieder has mumbled for weeks about planning the competition” not compatible with Corona “and now it is confirmed.

According to information from the FIS, 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 of the 2022 Olympics in Beijing. In fact, many events this winter are expected to be dress rehearsals for the Winter Games in Asia. In particular, the mandatory 14-day quarantine when entering China was the reason for the cancellation of the World Cup, just like for the cancellations of the World Cup by the FIS. The pre-Olympic trial races for speed skaters, short trackers and figure skaters in Beijing had previously been canceled.

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