(ATR) The International Ski Federation (FIS) has been notified by Beijing 2022 Organizers and the Chinese Ski Association that upcoming women’s Alpine World Cup races in Yanqing, Feb. 27-28, cannot proceed as scheduled.
Reasons provided include COVID-19 regulations and restrictions put in place by Chinese authorities, most notably a 14-day quarantine for all participants.
FIS said in a statement that it is waiting for the official confirmation from the National Ski Association of China, which is expected in the coming days. But the calendar on the FIS website has listed the events as cancelled.
The women’s downhill and super-G races were to also serve as an Olympic test event on the new courses in Yanqing, located about 90 kilometers (56 miles) northwest of Beijing.
Men’s FIS World Cup races at the Beijing 2022 venue were also cancelled last season due to the coronavirus outbreak, however the Chinese National Winter Games were held on the future Olympic downhill course last January.
The 2019-20 women’s overall World Cup champion Federica Brignone expressed her excitement about racing at the future Olympic venue to Around the Rings last month.
"Actually, I can’t wait to be in China because they said the slopes are amazing," the Italian skier Brignone told ATR. "I’m on the World Cup 10 years now and I would like to see new places. It’s amazing that we are able to go to China."
While the cancellation remains unofficial, the FIS, in a message sent to select media informs: "Given the circumstances, we ask you to put your preparations on hold for the Women’s Audi FIS Ski World Cup races in China."
It remains to be determined whether the races will be rescheduled for another venue.
Homepage photo: Beijing 2022
Written by Brian Pinelli
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