During the week, the International Ski Federation (Fis) has had a variety of meetings in Portoroz, Slovenia.
One of the meetings was with Fi’s distance committee, where one of the items was the upcoming season’s World Cup calendar.
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Too much travelling
A historic announcement was made there. Following requests from a number of countries, including Sweden, it was voted through that the Tour de Ski next winter should only be run in Italy.
This is partly because several countries have considered that there has been too much traveling in recent years, but also because of financial problems with some of the organizing associations.
– From a sustainability and cost point of view, we think it’s good, says the Swedish Skiing Association’s head of cross-country skiing Lars Öberg, who sits on Fi’s cross-country committee and was therefore involved in making the decision, to SVT Sport.
“It feels good”
Thus, a total of seven World Cup competitions will be decided in Italy next winter.
– I think it feels good from a Swedish perspective, but then of course it is not good if in the long run there are too many competitions in one and the same country, says Öberg.
Sweden has also tried to get a return to the tour ending with a chase start up the classic slalom hill in Val di Fiemme, but that will not happen. Nor will there be any change to the points system, which many experienced as very complicated last winter.
From the various calendar meetings in Slovenia, it can also be stated that next year there will also be an alpine premiere in Sölden in October, a premiere that many have wanted to see postponed due to the lack of snow that often prevails so early in the season.
– These are classic competitions, and you don’t move them. After all, it is Fi’s biggest brand, says Anders Sundqvist, who sits on Fi’s Alpine World Cup Committee, to SVT.
All decisions made at this week’s meetings must now be approved by Fi’s board, but this is usually just a formality.