When the Raw Air Tour opens today (6.50 p.m., ORF Sport+) with the floodlit competition of the ski jumpers from the large hill in Lillehammer, there will be no athletes from Russia and Belarus on the start list. As a result of the invasion of the Ukraine, Norway’s Ski Association has imposed a ban on the teams from the said nations participating in World Cup events in Norway, thereby putting pressure on the International Ski Federation FIS, which is hesitant to act in this matter.
The latter followed shortly thereafter and – after a unanimous decision in the Council – ordered an exclusion for all events worldwide. All disciplines (alpine skiing, ski jumping, Nordic combined, cross-country skiing, freestyle & freeskiing, snowboarding) and competition series are affected.
Stadlober changed her mind
Roswitha Stadlober, President of the Austrian Ski Association, was “dismayed by the current developments”. “We express our condolences to the Ukrainian people. There can be no peaceful competition while civilians die, Ukrainian athletes defend their homeland as soldiers and the safety of athletes is not guaranteed,” said the 58-year-old from Radstadt.
The ÖSV therefore fully supports the line of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the FIS.
Stadlober changed course practically overnight. On Monday evening, her words on ServusTV had sounded different. The ÖSV boss spoke out against the exclusion of Russia both in the winter sports world cups and at the Paralympics in Beijing starting on Friday. “Only a world association or the government can decide. We at the Austrian Ski Association think it’s good what the International Biathlon Union thinks: under a neutral flag, no nation points, but still being able to start. Because the athletes can’t really do anything about it,” explained Stadlober on “Sport and Talk from Hangar-7”.
In the coming days, Norway will be the sporting “winter hotspot”, if you will. Today the alpine men (with the Upper Austrians Vincent Kriechmayr and Daniel Hemetsberger) are doing the first downhill training in Kvitfjell, the ski jumpers are in action in Lillehammer like the women today and tomorrow. At the weekend we continue to Oslo. At the Holmenkollen, the combined and cross-country skiers, who will sprint in Drammen tomorrow, will also take part.
If the Russian Alexander Bolschunow – currently second behind the leader Johannes Hösflot Kläbo (North), who tested positive for Corona – still had ambitions for the overall World Cup, then that’s done now. The 25-year-old has to return home from Oslo without having achieved anything. The same applies to Natalja Neprjajewa (Rus), who is at the top of the rankings with a clear lead. Whether the 26-year-old will be able to enjoy a trophy remains to be seen. If so, then only by post.
Source: Nachrichten
