– We write 1 July 2022, and still have no agreement. There are unreasonable and too risky preconditions for arranging four or five World Cup competitions. This was written by the chairman of the board of the Swedish Parasport Association, Åsa Llinares Norlin, in a press release this weekend. They thus chose to cancel the championship in Östersund, which they have planned since 2016. The reason is as Norlin mentions that the organizer has not received any event agreement with the International Ski Federation (FIS). The fact that the parade sport has now been transferred from the International Parasport Association (IPC) to FIS has further complicated the matter, says Secretary General of the Swedish Parasport Association, Bo Sköld to news. – Neither IPC nor FIS had an agreement with us on July 1 and that led to it having been a fairly long process before we could agree. We were not informed of the transfer from IPC to FIS until very late in May. And without an event agreement, it would have been extremely difficult for us to obtain the necessary TV agreements, sponsors, etc., says Sköld. – Astonish and confuse SAD: Vilde Nilsen looked forward to defending the impressive gold catch from the World Cup in snow sports in Lillehammer. Photo: Samuel Andersen / NTB The championship was next season’s big highlight for the pair stars Jesper Saltvik Pedersen and Vilde Nilsen. At Hafjell and Lillehammer this winter, they took five and four medals respectively, but now do not seem to have the opportunity to defend these next winter. – I had looked forward to doing a good World Cup. I feel I did well this year and wanted to defend my titles in Östersund. Not least after a downturn in the Paralympics, I wanted revenge. It’s incredibly sad. It is an arena that suits me well and is known for carrying out good events, Nilsen says to news. Saltvik Pedersen was mildly surprised when he learned that the World Cup had been canceled. – I had not received any indications that there were any problems before the weekend, so I was a little surprised and confused. I hope it resolves, but it seems that someone has not done their job, says the paralympist. – Do not understand the problem Now he reacts to the fact that FIS and IPC have not managed to give the Swedish organizer an agreement. – It should have been in place before. I honestly do not understand the problem. That they have not had a dialogue shows that they may not take it so seriously, says Saltvik Pedersen. – It shows that it is still a battle we have to fight and that it is not something that is done by itself. It is a battle that must be fought all the way, he follows up. MUST FIGHT: The medal wholesaler on the alpine trail believes this is a sign that the fight for the pair of athletes is not over. Photo: Gisle Johnsen / NTB The cancellation makes Nilsen wonder what has happened in the process. – It’s a little strange. It seems that there has been a clinch between IPC and FIS that has taken time to resolve. Stupid that they do not find out until there is half a year left until the championship, says the cross-country skier who is the reigning world champion in sprint and 10 km classic. – Need something better One who had hoped to know more about the process between IPC and FIS is Sköld in the Swedish Parasport Association. He feels that they have been left out and will address this with FIS. – We need something better from the international level to include the various parties, especially when we are such a large organizer. It is important to include those to be included. Participation is important for it to be good for couples, the general secretary believes. – I perceive that FIS has taken on the responsibility and will take it seriously, but then I do not know how the transfer has taken place. Other than that it has gone very fast towards the end and I do not know how much time they have spent on agreements, Sköld follows up. FIS has not responded to news’s inquiry about this case. Discussing alternatives Both Saltvik Pedersen and Nilsen are positive that FIS has now taken over the parade sport, and hope this is just a bit of a start-up problem. – For the parasport, it is fantastic that we enter FIS and are not part of IPC. That we can eventually have the World Cup and championships in the same arena as the able-bodied will be fantastic. Seems like there is some growing pain now, but in the long run this is a boost for the sport, Saltvik Pedersen thinks and comes with a small sigh of relief: – This case shows that nothing does itself. But maybe not all hope is out for the championship next season anyway. – We are now discussing with FIS and IBU (The International Biathlon Federation) about conducting parts of the World Cup, but right now we can not promise anything. We have to look at what is possible to implement, says Sköld in the Swedish Parasport Association.
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