Queen of the White Footprint last winter Ester Ledecká.
Ondřej Pýcha / Association of Skiers of the Czech Republic
–
The program underwent changes in the autumn, the downhill skiers, including the Czech star Ester Ledecká, lost the traditional introductory speed races in the USA and Canada. “The aim was for most races to take place in Europe and for the teams to move within the Schengen area so that there were no problems with entry and visas,” explains Roman Kumpošt, who was elected vice-president of the FIS this year.
However, the plan is somewhat eroded by the fact that this winter is pre-Olympic and mostly newly built sports venues in Beijing are to be tested. Will he succeed?
Roman Kumpošt
Vlastimil Vacek, Right
“In that exceptional situation, the tests can be relieved or, for example, moved to the summer for jumps. Alternatives were sought at the end of the season, because it is not expected that the teams would want to travel to China before the world championships, “admits Kumpošt.
Given the logistical complexity of skiing, which is also called the white circus, it is not possible to create an impermeable “bubble”, where the competitors do not meet anyone else. It is planned to regularly test for coronavirus, the FIS has also created rules to be followed by the organizers, but the regulations of individual countries take precedence over them.
Under the current measures, World Cup races could not take place in the Czech Republic, even though there are three on the calendar: one for cross-country skiers, two snowboarders.
“A month in advance, the organizer must declare that he is able to organize the races. That is why the FIS has set up an operational group that can change the calendar and not have to wait for a meeting of the presidency, “says Kumpošt, adding that the accumulation of races in one center, following the example of biathlon, is not excluded.
The key decision is to be made on Friday, concerning bans on fluorine-containing waxes used by service workers across skis and biathlon. However, it is possible to postpone the validity of the revolutionary decision to a later date.
| Planned winter peaks |
| Classic skiing |
| 28. 12.–6. 1. Four Bridges Tour |
| 1.–10. 1. Ski Tour |
| 20.–21. 2. SP runners, Nové Město na Moravě |
| 22. 2.–7. 3. MS v Oberstdorfu |
| Downhill skiing |
| 8.–21. 2. MS in Cortina d´Ampezzo |
| Snowboarding |
| 12.–14. 2. World Championships in snowboard cross, Lower Moravia |
| 18.–28. 2. MS in Changjia |
| 25.–27. 3. SP in slopestyle, Spindleruv Mlyn |
– .
