Swedish ski resort ready to become a crisis solution

The International Ski Federation, Fis, has a lot of work ahead of it to nail down the upcoming racing season when much is uncertain given the corona virus.

It has been talked about reducing the number of competitions, but also about moving events to countries that have the opportunity to organize more competitions.

"Yes, it is an opportunity and a grip that can be used to shape our season plan to the current opportunities," said Fis Manager Pierre Mignerey recently in an interview with Norwegian NTB.

In such a situation, it would probably be most about the Nordic countries, Niklas Jonsson, Sweden's representative in Fis's length committee, told TT, since the economic opportunities are generally better there with a greater skiing interest.

So how do the Swedish organizers stand to possibly get more competitions?

When TT calls around to the Swedish organizers, Falun and Ulricehamn, they have not received any question from Fis. At least not yet.

- No concrete new proposals have emerged. We are planning for a competition January 16-17 and cannot change that much, we cannot have a competition in December for example, says Johan Falk, CEO of the World Cup competition in Ulricehamn.

Falk does not want to close the door completely to, for example, take an extra day of competition if the question should come, but says at the same time:

- But that we would put a five-kilometer distance on the Friday before it doesn't work, either. Then we take an even greater risk in terms of snow laying, says Falk.

- And more competitions over several weekends I do not see as likely. I should not say no, but it is difficult ... If it suddenly hurts organizers then I do not know who can arrange a competition at short notice. Is there any organizer who can help if the question comes to Sweden?

Yes, maybe it does.

Gällivare has previously shown interest in World Cup competitions but has not arranged any since 2012.

- We haven't got a straight question. But we have continuous discussions with the Swedish Ski Federation, ”says Leif Johansson, chairman of Sport Event Gällivare.

- We have discussed a little internally but nothing concrete, and I think we would just see that we get finances in it, we would love to, absolutely.

Prior to 2012, the 2010 World Cup premiere was held in Gällivare. A competition Leif Johansson remembers with warmth.

- Then we had Marcus Hellner who won, Charlotte Kalla finished second and the men won the baton. It would have been quite fun to be able to join it again actually.

In recent years (alternated every two years with the Bruksvallarna) the skiing public in Norrbotten has instead seen the Swedish premiere. The risk in Gällivare is the cold and arranging competitions in, for example, February can be difficult.

- Obviously it would be exciting for us. We have an organization that would do it. Then I also think that we have support in society and the municipality. We are ready if the question comes, says Johansson.

Falun is scheduled to host the World Cup on January 30-31. Ulrika Back Eriksson, CEO of Swedish Ski Games in Falun, describes it as an "opportunity but a challenge" to organize more competitions, but at the same time says that an extra day during the same competition weekend would probably be quite easy to implement.

But she also points out the importance of the competitions actually continuing to be organized outside the Nordic countries.

- I think it is important for the World Cup and for sports that there are competitions in countries other than the Nordic countries.