Austrian And German Ski Associations Ready To Stage 2020 - 21 World Cup Events

The Austrian and German Ski Associations have communicated their readiness in staging the planned FIS World Cup events in the coming winter season of 2020/21. They are both working on the different conditions which may apply to sports events next winter together with the responsible Health Authorities and respective Organising Committees.

The Austrian Ski Federation (ÖSV) held a President's Conference in Pörtschach, with the COVID-19 pandemic dominating proceedings and the bid to have "full concentration on sport".

ÖSV President Peter Schröcksnadel said to those present: "Sport is our lifeline and that of the active, we have to make sure that we can carry out all of our events if possible, even if we cannot allow spectators, because only then can we create the necessary conditions for the active."

One of the potential measures presented included adapting the programme of the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup season opener in Sölden, with the women's race advanced to Friday instead of Saturday and the men on Sunday to ensure manageable health conditions for athletes, spectators and fans if they are permitted to attend.

Also the German Ski Association (DSV) is positive towards holding all planned World Cup events, even if there may be possible limits on the number of spectators. In their planning, the association has taken into account the status of the pandemic, possible travel dates, political decisions to ease the current restrictions, the creation or revision of hygiene and safety concepts, as well as the impact on the athletes.

Hubertus Schwarz, Chairman of the DSV Board: “We assume as things stand today all World Cups planned in Germany will be carried out, even if competitions would have to take place with limited spectator numbers or without visitors. At the moment we are enhancing the hygiene concept, which takes into account the conditions on site on the one hand and the demands of the respective disciplines on the other hand, in order to do everything in our responsibility for the safety of the athletes as well as the spectators.