Paris (AFP)
The Freestyle Skiing and Snowboarding Worlds scheduled for Yanqing (China) from February 18 to 28, 2021 at the site of the 2022 Beijing Winter Games, have been canceled due to restrictions imposed by China in the face of the novel coronavirus pandemic, the International Ski Federation confirmed on Friday.
The FIS says it is looking for a new venue for the competition as well as the World Cups in alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, ski jumping and Nordic combined scheduled in China in early 2021 and all canceled.
The FIS had already communicated Wednesday on a very probable cancellation of the competitions to be held in China this season, thus confirmed on Friday.
“The current situation with the Covid-19 pandemic affecting many parts of the world means that travel restrictions exist, including mandatory 14-day isolation for all foreign visitors to China,” FIS noted in its statement.
The Freestyle Worlds, held every two years, were to take place in Yanqing at the Beijing Olympic Games venues one year before the major winter sports event.
The FIS has also confirmed the cancellation of the Women's Alpine Skiing World Cup stage (downhill and super-G) scheduled for February 27 and 28, 2021 also in Yanqing, and of the Cross-Country Skiing World Cups (19- March 21 in Beijing), Nordic combined and ski jumping (both February 10-14 in Beijing).
"As the testing of competition venues is mandatory to make them the best and safest possible in 2022, FIS is working with the Games Organizing Committee to make venues accessible as the Games approach, and for certain disciplines this will include rescheduled test events at different levels (not necessarily World Cup) until 2022 ", writes FIS.
Cancellations of competitions due to the health crisis have been increasing for several weeks for winter sports, which are experiencing a chaotic start to the season.
© 2020 AFP