If Johannes Høsflot Klæbo becomes world sprint champion, he will receive NOK 190,000 in prize money at today’s rate. If Vilde Nilsen, who is among the world’s best para-country skiers, wins the sprint, she gets zero kroner. This is how it is set to be in the Ski World Championships in Trondheim in 2025, where the para athletes for the first time in history will take part in an ordinary World Championships. The para-athletes have been used to not receiving cash prizes, but para-cross-country runner Indira Liseth had no idea what she has been missing out on: – Oi! It is a heavy pot. I had no idea that there was so much money involved. – Can’t use budget as an argument World Ski Championships in Trondheim 2025 are profiled as sustainable where the goal is “a championship for everyone. With a focus on inclusion, diversity and equal opportunities”. The organizer and the Norwegian Ski Federation (NSF) have therefore worked hard to get a para exercise on the official WC programme: A cross-country sprint exercise for all three classes, women and men, will be held over two days. – Our ambition is to carry out the most sustainable ski WC ever. It is not least about inclusion and equal opportunities, said World Cup manager Åge Skinstad after the sprint practice was adopted earlier this year. The para athletes thus compete in the same championship, on the same tracks, in front of the same audience. But while the able-bodied athletes get travel, accommodation and prize money covered by the organiser, no money has been set aside for travel, accommodation and prize money for the para athletes. That causes rower Kjetil Borch to react. CRITICAL: Rower Kjetil Borch believes the budget cannot be used as an argument when it comes to creating equal rights and conditions for everyone. Photo: Fredrik Varfjell / NTB – On a general basis, it says something about where sport stands in relation to other professions, he says. – It’s not about deliberate discrimination with the intention of oppressing someone, but the financial framework is set up in such a way that it unfortunately happens like that. You cannot use budget as an argument. You have to budget for everyone to have the same rights and the same conditions, says Borch. The organizer has previously emphasized that there will be equal prize money for women and men in the various branches as an innovation in the championship. Wants prize money Para-cross-country skier Indira Liseth says a prize money would mean a lot: – This year, we don’t have the opportunity to travel for altitude training. And then I could actually take it out of my own pocket and travel. SURPRISED: Indira Liseth was not aware of the amount in the prize pool for the able-bodied athletes. Photo: Aleksandr Nedbaev / news Teammate Thomas Karbøl Oxaal says that the cash prize of NOK 190,000, which the able-bodied athletes can get, is more money than he spends on sports investment in the course of a year. – In terms of investments like that, it would have been revolutionary, that. So it’s clear, I think that would have been good money for most people, he says. Vilde Nilsen will not hide the fact that money to cover accommodation and prizes is desired by the para athletes. – That would be fantastic, says Nilsen, and continues. – We wish and hope that it can be done for this championship that is now coming to Trondheim. And of course that it is something that will be sorted out for later championships, she says. GOING FOR THE MEDAL: Para athlete Thomas Karbøl Oxaal (in the middle) hopes there will be lots of spectators and a lot of life when the para exercise gets underway in Granåsen in Trondheim. Here he is with teammate Indira Liseth (from left), coach Petter Maurseth Blindheim and teammate Vilde Nilsen. Photo: Anne Rognerud / news The WC organizer, the company Ski-VM Trondheim 2025 AS, has applied for grants twice, budgeting a profit of NOK 20 million. However, the budget does not include all costs related to the implementation of the para-exercises. Therefore, the WC organizer has twice applied for a grant from the Ministry of Culture and Equality (KUD). The first time was in July last year. Then the organizer wanted 2.8 million, but KUD refused, among other things, because of the budgeted surplus. The WC organizer applied again in June this year, this time for 2.5 million. According to community and authority contact Rita Ottervik at the WC company, a new application was sent because they applied for the wrong program post in the ministry the first time. – Why weren’t there budgets with funds for para exercises, accommodation, prizes etc. in the first place? – The implementation itself is now included in the budget, there are costs we have to bear. Otherwise, there are different rules for the para athletes and the other runners. There is a shortage in the budget, says Ottervik to news. It is not appropriate to take profits. NOK 1 million has been applied for as prize money for the para athletes. In comparison, the able-bodied athletes in the same exercise receive this in prize money for the podium places: 1st place: NOK 190,000 at today’s exchange rate 2nd place NOK 126,000 3rd place: NOK 63,300 The prize money is paid in Swiss francs. ORGANIZER: Community and authority contact Rita Ottervik in the organizing company Ski-VM Trondheim AS shows off the arena in Granåsen, surrounded by students at Heimdal upper secondary school who are in training. Photo: Morten Waagø – Can it be relevant to take the surplus, then? – The profit is repayment to the Norwegian Sports Association, which provides 2,500 volunteers who do not receive a salary, and who make the championship possible, says Ottervik. – So we have to deliver that. But we feel confident that this is a good thing. This is something that you want to help with, and now we hope that the Ministry of Culture will help us, she says. The Norwegian Skiing Association owns 60 percent of the WC company. They have previously signaled that a profit from the championship is important for building up the association’s equity after several heavy losses in recent years. news has asked KUD when the application will be processed. KUD has replied that, as of now, they cannot say anything more about the processing time. FIS will cover half of the prize The organizer receives a grant from the International Ski Federation (FIS) to carry out the world championships, but does not receive its own budget funds for carrying out the para exercise. According to the international rules governing the organizer’s duties, the able-bodied athletes must have their accommodation covered, while the para athletes must pay for this themselves. According to the international rules, the para athletes are also not entitled to prize money. The WC in Trondheim wants to set a new standard for this, but is dependent on external contributions to succeed, according to the organiser’s application to KUD. PARA PROMISES: During a presentation of the Ski WC at the Skiing Parliament in June, operational manager and sports manager Kristin Stemland said in the organizing company that the para athletes should receive “the same honor and glory as everyone else who competes on the same day”. Photo: Screenshot, presentation for Ski WC news has asked the FIS why the rules are not the same for the able-bodied athletes and para athletes. In its response, FIS writes that if the local organizer decides to pay out prize money to the para athletes, FIS must cover half of the amount. The reason why the FIS does not have rules for prize money for the para athletes is that the para exercises were not included in the FIS at the time the agreement on the Ski WC in Trondheim was signed. At the same time, FIS has recently decided that the organizer must cover stays for the reigning para-world champions in sprinting. There is a maximum of six people. The Norwegian para athletes will have their travel and accommodation covered by the Ski Association, so they will not have to pay out of their own pocket. Full cheers when Ødegaard commented on the baby news 00:50 Grandmother in tears after bronze medal 00:49 Competitors get help before the start: – It doesn’t get more beautiful 00:46 Shocked by what the Olympic winner says about the muffin 01:18 Show more Published 05.09.2024 , at 18.01
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The WC in Trondheim boasts of being equal, has not set aside prize money for the para athletes – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcasting schedule
