Nordic Skiing/Biathlon Thread

[KZD]

Why is the question I was posing

Not the place to discuss this.

If I was in charge of the IOC, I would have decided differently in a few instances and that´s the most that I will say.

 

[OJRvE]

Russian athletes will be allowed to compete in Milano-Cortina Olympics under neutral flag. The correct decision, in my opinion.

But they won’t be allowed in any skiing as far as I understand. FIS and IBU already decided that long ago. I guess Figure Skating or some of the other federations now are technically allowed to invite athletes from Russia

 

[search]

But they won’t be allowed in any skiing as far as I understand. FIS and IBU already decided that long ago. I guess Figure Skating or some of the other federations now are technically allowed to invite athletes from Russia

are they the ones to decide, though?!

But regardless, with the same rules as for Paris (no teams allowed to compete, no military links etc) it'll be far from a full selection, of course.

 

[OJRvE]

are they the ones to decide, though?!

But regardless, with the same rules as for Paris (no teams allowed to compete, no military links etc) it'll be far from a full selection, of course.

Yes

The size of the neutral delegation now depends on the international sports federations, which are responsible for the qualification process and some of which continue to ban Russians and Belarusians from their competitions.

Russian athletes allowed to participate at 2026 Winter Games under neutral flag, IOC says

The decision by the International Olympic Committee maintains the same sanctions it imposed for the Paris Summer Games last year.

www.cbsnews.com

 

[BullsFan22]

Not the place to discuss this.

If I was in charge of the IOC, I would have decided differently in a few instances and that´s the most that I will say.

It isn’t the place to discuss it, but it is the reason the Russians were and continue to be suspended.

 

[BullsFan22]

are they the ones to decide, though?!

But regardless, with the same rules as for Paris (no teams allowed to compete, no military links etc) it'll be far from a full selection, of course.

The Scandinavian lobby has a lot of power in FIS and the IBU. Yes, the IOC decides, but it has previously stated that it will leave it up to individual organizations. If that is still the case, the Scandinavians won’t let the Russians in. They’re just fine without their toughest competition.

And as far as the IOC is concerned, I don’t hold them in high regard anymore. There is a lot of hypocrisy and double standards. Also, it’s the US that more or less runs the show. Those countries that dish out the most money, tend to have the most influence. I mean, just look at ‘Lord’ Coe for example. That guy has become such a tool it’s unbelievable.

 

[OJRvE]

Not sure why FIS is making fun of Remco on its official Instagram.

 

[dobrien]

Looks like some members of this thread might be getting their long held wish...

Jessie Diggins possibly retiring

The investment minded among us might want to get on it and short glitter futures...

 

[KZD]

Looks like some members of this thread might be getting their long held wish...

Jessie Diggins possibly retiring

The investment minded among us might want to get on it and short glitter futures...

At least she's got her timing right unlike JTB.

 

[BullsFan22]

Fossesholm retires at age 24. Going to med school. Not the worst career move, especially when you have dealt with injury problems and lack of motivation.

 

[dobrien]

Fossesholm retires at age 24. Going to med school. Not the worst career move, especially when you have dealt with injury problems and lack of motivation.

Norway loses three Junior World Champions

And Norway has also lost three Junior World Champions on top of that; the training demands of top sport and the pressures on young athletes have just gotten out of hand.

 

[OJRvE]

Flora Dolci had a paragliding accident. Injured her back and will miss the whole season. Atleast it looks like she will be fully recovered

 

[dobrien]

Flora Dolci had a paragliding accident. Injured her back and will miss the whole season. Atleast it looks like she will be fully recovered

Oh no!! That really sucks, she had placed herself very solidly in the top 10 in the World Cup; damn. One of my favorites to follow.

 

[OJRvE]

So great to see that Vittozzi is back. Dominant victory in München!

 

[BullsFan22]

Wonder what FIS has to say about this…

https://www.usskiandsnowboard.org/news/us-ski-snowboard-partners-us-army-celebrating-10th-mountain-divisions-founding-role-industry

 

[DenisMenchov]

No Russians in FIS competitions in the coming season too. So Klaebo can really get 6 golds in Olympics.

 

[BullsFan22]

Hardly surprising. More domination from the Norwegian men and Swedish women. The two countries that lobbied the most to keep the Russians out.

 

[DenisMenchov]

"Maybe...
Next time...

Writes one of the most talented skiers of his generation who never competed in a single senior international competition. He made no political gestures or statements—he simply stayed out of it. He's not a member of either CSKA or Dynamo Moscow. His neutrality is unassailable. Saveliy is simply an athlete who could have won an Olympic medal this winter. Instead, he found himself in the crosshairs."

 

[BullsFan22]

TV2 reports that 12 members voted to keep the ban in place, while 10 voted for the ban to be lifted. Honestly, I am a little surprised. I really want to know all the members/federations that voted and how they voted. Transparency is needed.

 

[BullsFan22]

"Maybe...
Next time...

Writes one of the most talented skiers of his generation who never competed in a single senior international competition. He made no political gestures or statements—he simply stayed out of it. He's not a member of either CSKA or Dynamo Moscow. His neutrality is unassailable. Saveliy is simply an athlete who could have won an Olympic medal this winter. Instead, he found himself in the crosshairs."

I know that 3 of the countries that voted for them to be banned were going to ban any and every Russian, no matter their affiliation and views. It’s pretty obvious when Finland wasn’t even going to allow passports and visas.

Also, those same 3 countries were threatening with boycotts, in case of the vote not going their way.

And if FIS did accept them, not having Scandinavian countries and Finland on the WC wasn’t going to happen. They tried to do it in 2020/2021 with COVID, but FIS didn’t budge. That’s one of FIS’s best moves over the last 5-10 years.

All of that said, i would have liked to have seen the members that didn’t vote for the ban, what their reactions would have been in case of a boycott. I hope that that would have put the 3 boycotting countries in the spotlight as trying to bully FIS, which is exactly what’s been happening over the years.

 

[DenisMenchov]

I know that 3 of the countries that voted for them to be banned were going to ban any and every Russian, no matter their affiliation and views. It’s pretty obvious when Finland wasn’t even going to allow passports and visas.

Also, those same 3 countries were threatening with boycotts, in case of the vote not going their way.

And if FIS did accept them, not having Scandinavian countries and Finland on the WC wasn’t going to happen. They tried to do it in 2020/2021 with COVID, but FIS didn’t budge. That’s one of FIS’s best moves over the last 5-10 years.

All of that said, i would have liked to have seen the members that didn’t vote for the ban, what their reactions would have been in case of a boycott. I hope that that would have put the 3 boycotting countries in the spotlight as trying to bully FIS, which is exactly what’s been happening over the years.

Voting results:
Johan Eliasz (Sweden) - for
Tove Moe Dyrhaug (Norway) - against
Deidra Dionne (Canada) - against
May Peus (Spain) - for
Anna Harboe Falkenberg (Denmark) - against
Michael Huber (Austria) - for
Freddy Keirouz (Lebanon) - for
Karin Mattsson (Sweden) - against
Tzeko Minev (Bulgaria) - for
Aki Murasato (Japan) - for
Alexander Ospelt (Liechtenstein) - against
Dexter Paine (USA) - for
Jean-Philippe Rochat (Switzerland) - against
Flavio Roda (Italy) - for
Fabien Saguez (France) - against
Franz Steinle (Germany) - against
Fiona Stevens (New Zealand) - against
Martti Uusitalo (Finland) - against
Alex Fiva (Switzerland) - against
Adam Hall (New Zealand) - against
Verena Stuffer (Italy) - for
Danielle Aravich (USA) - for

So the famous XC country of New Zealand was the decisive factor.

 

[OJRvE]

So apparently Simon will be in court on Friday in the credit card fraud case. She risks prison and Olynpic exclusion.

 

[BullsFan22]

Voting results:
Johan Eliasz (Sweden) - for
Tove Moe Dyrhaug (Norway) - against
Deidra Dionne (Canada) - against
May Peus (Spain) - for
Anna Harboe Falkenberg (Denmark) - against
Michael Huber (Austria) - for
Freddy Keirouz (Lebanon) - for
Karin Mattsson (Sweden) - against
Tzeko Minev (Bulgaria) - for
Aki Murasato (Japan) - for
Alexander Ospelt (Liechtenstein) - against
Dexter Paine (USA) - for
Jean-Philippe Rochat (Switzerland) - against
Flavio Roda (Italy) - for
Fabien Saguez (France) - against
Franz Steinle (Germany) - against
Fiona Stevens (New Zealand) - against
Martti Uusitalo (Finland) - against
Alex Fiva (Switzerland) - against
Adam Hall (New Zealand) - against
Verena Stuffer (Italy) - for
Danielle Aravich (USA) - for

So the famous XC country of New Zealand was the decisive factor.

Not surprised about NZ. It’s too bad that they were the deciding factor. I am surprised with Switzerland and a little bit with Germany. I think that this basically matches with the policies of their governments, though, so perhaps not surprising at all.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Not surprised about NZ. It’s too bad that they were the deciding factor. I am surprised with Switzerland and a little bit with Germany. I think that this basically matches with the policies of their governments, though, so perhaps not surprising at all.

The Swiss and Lichtenstein are the surprises to me. Also the big CX skiing nation of Denmark voting is a bit weird, but I have to admit that I'm not too familiar with the whole process and who is allowed to vote.
Clearly we needed the Kazakhs or China on the panel.

 

[BullsFan22]

The Swiss and Lichtenstein are the surprises to me. Also the big CX skiing nation of Denmark voting is a bit weird, but I have to admit that I'm not too familiar with the whole process and who is allowed to vote.
Clearly we needed the Kazakhs or China on the panel.

Yeah, what winter sports does Denmark have? There have been Danish skiers, but none of them too competitive. One of them skied in Norway and went to college in Anchorage, Alaska.