Several have reacted to the agreement between Johannes Høsflot Klæbo and the Norwegian Ski Association in recent weeks. The cross-country star has broken with the national team, but is still allowed to go to World Cup races and have full commercial freedom between the competition weekends. Now top alpinist Henrik Kristoffersen, who for a number of years was in a sponsorship conflict with the Ski Association, casts doubt on the legality of the agreement. He clarifies to news that his quotes must not be “cut and pasted”. – I’m not going to answer anything controversial or anything in anger, but I don’t know if that agreement of his is in line with the Ski Association’s laws and regulations?, he asks and lets the question hang before adding: – Because when you’ve turned down a national team place, you will not be allowed to go to the World Cup or race in the World Cup. SAME ASSOCIATION: Johannes Høsflot Klæbo (left) and Henrik Kristoffersen (top right) represent the Ski Association. Here they are at a hockey match during the Olympics in 2018. Niklas Dyrhaug (bottom right) is also there. Photo: Erik Johansen / NTB scanpix – I believe that we have to give and take. The Ski Association’s rules state that athletes who decline a place in the national team should not be allowed to represent Norway in the World Cup unless there are “special circumstances”. The cross-country skiing committee of the Norwegian Skiing Association has concluded that it does, which means that Klæbo has received an agreement that is described as a gift package for the cross-country skiing set. Nevertheless, slalom world champion Kristoffersen has no desire for a similar solution. – I believe that we have to give and take, he replies, and refers to an interview he gave earlier in the season. Kristoffersen, who is in Val-d’Isère to race giant slalom and slalom this weekend, also says that he is willing to make many compromises so that both the association and the athletes will get good financial conditions. – I am sure that most other athletes are also involved. There are no athletes who want to take everything themselves. But of course you want some of the cake yourself, there’s no doubt about that. But there is a big difference between 30 percent of something and 100 percent of nothing, says the alpinist. Klæbo answers Klæbo is in place in Östersund to go to the World Cup race. When asked what he thinks of Kristoffersen’s statements, he replies as follows: – The agreement was outlined by the Norwegian Ski Association. That’s where we’re going to be this year, and then we’ll get a foot on the ground in the spring and see what the next step will be. Now I think everyone is focused on skiing as fast as possible and trying to win ski races again. Then we’ll have to take this to spring, I think. He says he hasn’t thought too much about the fact that he has been given an exception to the rules. – As I said, it’s not something I’ve spent any time on. It has been a long process. I’ve tried to put all that behind me and focus on everything I can do something about, which is skiing fast. It is of course something we have to evaluate and discuss in the spring. Follow Saturday’s cross-country sprint from Östersund here and on news Radio Kristoffersen is, however, supported by news’s sports commentator Jan Petter Saltvedt. – Kristoffersen asks completely legitimate questions. And the Ski Association hardly has a better answer than before. And they have been deficient, at best, he says. SPORTS COMMENTATOR: Jan Petter Saltvedt. Photo: Lars Thomas Nordby / news – If “illegal” is not the word, then it is very easy to argue that the exemption Klæbo has received from the so-called national team duty is at least “irregular”, continues the sports commentator. Believes several profiles can demand the same Saltvedt believes Kristoffersen has “an obvious point”, and that it is difficult to see what are “special circumstances” in Klæbo’s situation. He therefore believes that profiles from the other branches could in theory require a similar solution: – A Henrik Kristoffersen or Lucas Braathen could then demand a similar treatment and agreement to what Klæbo has received. And to some extent that may also happen. But for the time being, Kristoffersen remains loyal to a system he is obviously not particularly impressed with. And the Ski Association should be very happy about that, Saltvedt believes. Espen Graff, communications director at the Norwegian Skiing Association, explains the Klæbo exception as follows: – The starting point is that athletes who are qualified/are selected must agree to the national team in order to participate in the World Cup. But it is up to each individual branch to assess whether there are special circumstances which mean that an athlete can stand outside the national team and sign a representation agreement. As you know, the cross-country committee and the cross-country management have done this in the case of Klæbo. The Norwegian Ski Association is divided into branches, and each branch has its own management. It is thus the cross-country committee that has given the Klæbo agreement the green light, and if an alpine skier had wanted something similar, the alpine committee would have had to deal with the matter. COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR: Espen Graff. Photo: Håkon Mosvold Lars – The Ski Association must look after and facilitate all athletes and national teams in the best possible way. It doesn’t always match the expectations of the biggest profiles. At the same time, dialogue between athlete and association can be improved, and it is necessary that all involved look at how this can be resolved going forward, says Graff. The Ski Board has decided that a committee will be set up to look at the development of the national team model. – The committee that will be set up will assess these issues, and here the athletes will have a central role, emphasizes the communications director. Was called in to the boss after a Tiktok parody 01:07 Rumors that she has a biathlon boyfriend 01:08 Refuses to go if Russian athletes get the 2026 Olympics 00:34 Bodø/Glimt’s success – was there a mistake with « The Matrix”? 01:02 Show more
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Henrik Kristoffersen casts doubt on the legality of the Johannes Høsflot Klæbo agreement – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcasting schedule
