FIS World Championship And World Cup Events In Beijing Cancelled

The Beijing 2022 Organising Committee and the International Ski Federation (FIS), supported by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), have agreed that in light of the current global Covid-19 situation that no FIS Test Events for the Olympic Winter Games in Beijing will be staged during the 2020-21 season.

This affects the following planned FIS events:

• FIS Freestyle Ski, Snowboard, Freeski World Championships – February 18-28
• FIS Ski Jumping Continental Cup – January 27-28
• FIS Ski Jumping World Cup – February 10-14
• FIS Nordic Combined World Cup – February 12-14
• FIS Alpine World Cup – February 24-28 (women only)
• FIS Cross Country World Cup – March 19-21

The current situation with the Covid-19 pandemic affecting many parts of the world means that travel restrictions are currently in place, including a current mandatory 14-day quarantine for all international visitors to China. The travel situation is likely to remain complex for the coming months, during which the Beijing 2022 test events are scheduled.

With the Beijing competition venues all scheduled for completion by the end of 2020, all stakeholders felt that the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 are well on track and that removing the Beijing Test Events for FIS events will reduce the complexity of this season for all involved, including the athletes.

“We were hopeful that staging the Test Events in China would be possible this season,” said FIS President Gian Franco Kasper. “But the current second wave of Covid-19 has resulted in very strong travel restrictions that made it virtually impossible to stage international competitions. It was a difficult decision to make, but thanks to the advanced level of preparation by the Beijing 2022 team, we know all venues will be operating at the highest standard in time for the Games in February 2022.”

Since testing of the venues is a requirement to ensure the venues in 2022 will be of the highest possible standard and in the safest environment, FIS is working with the BOCOG Team to make the venues accessible in the lead-up to the games, for some disciplines this would include re-scheduled Test Events on different levels until 2022.

For all other disciplines, National Events including only Chinese athletes, will be held to test the venues. The athletes participating in these events will not earn any FIS points. Additionally, all venues will be made available to FIS Technical experts to ensure the highest standard of preparation.

FIS is now focusing its efforts on finding replacement venues for the cancelled FIS World Championship and FIS World Cup events for the 2020-21 season. FIS will announce any replacement competitions and venues as they are confirmed.