The Shichi brothers will be among the few athletes to take part in the homologation of the Beijing track at the end of October.

The sleigh riders Juris and Andris Šici will go to China at the end of this month to try out the 2022 Beijing Olympic Games track, Einars Fogelis, Secretary General of the Luge Sports Federation (FIL), said in a conversation with Latvijas Radio.

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It has already been reported that the Olympic toboggan run in China, where a prestigious four-year competition is planned in two years, could host the first athletes for test rides in October and November this year.

In a conversation with Latvijas Radio Fogelis, he pointed out that the first test rides on the Chinese track have already taken place, because 19 local sleigh riders have already completed the unofficial training rides.

Fogelis pointed out that preparations for the new season are already underway on three tracks. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, only local athletes “scratch” the track in Sochi, Sigulda has received athletes from Poland, Austria and other countries, but in China homologation is scheduled for October 26.

The Secretary-General of the FIL revealed that China wanted only the Schengen countries to participate in the homologation. It is planned that initially only eight athletes will be able to “taste” the track, two of whom will be Latvians – brothers Šici.

At the end of July, after the FIL board meeting, the organization reported that about 16 athletes would take part in the homologation, but now their number has halved.

It has already been reported that the homologation of the Chinese route was previously planned for March, but then the plan was postponed to May. The tests were also canceled in May due to the spread of Covid-19.

The title of Martins Dukurs will most likely be able to try out the track of the 2022 Olympic Games prematurely.

The new season of tobogganing is planned for the Innsbruck track in Austria at the end of November, followed by stages in Altenberg, Oberhof and Winterberg, but after the New Year the athletes will take two more stages in Europe and then go to North America. The competition is planned in Sigulda at the beginning of January (6-10), but in Königszse a week later.

Last season, the Latvian sleigh team won three bronze awards in the team relay, finished twice in the fifth position, but once also won the fourth place.

It is significant that the composition of the team in the relay at different stages changed, with brothers Andris and Juris Šicis, Oskars Gudramovičs / Pēteris Kalniņš, Krister Aparjodas, Ulla Zirne, Kendija Aparjode and Iniza Tīruma handing over their hands to the prizes. Athletes also won prizes in individual competitions.

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