ÖSV President Schröcksnadel: “I’m very sorry for Switzerland”

After a renewed increase in corona infections, the Bern health department put a stop to the Lauberhorn races on Monday. On Sunday, after some back and forth, the authorities in the canton of Bern gave the green light for the traditional event. The reason for the rethink was that the Corona situation had worsened again overnight.

The teams were therefore asked by the International Ski Federation (FIS) to stop traveling to Wengen on Monday morning. The official cancellation followed in the afternoon, after the authorities withdrew their permission to host the World Cup due to alarming figures. The virus spread extremely quickly in Wengen The mutated, more contagious virus variant introduced via British tourists is said to be responsible for this significant increase. “The canton is concerned about the dynamics in which the virus is spreading. Based on this fact, the Health Directorate assumes that the virus mutation from Great Britain in particular leads to this effect,” said the media release from the Health Directorate of the Canton of Bern on Monday.

“According to the experts’ assessment, safe implementation is not possible under the current pandemic situation,” said the organizing committee (OK) of the Lauberhorn races about the cancellation. The virus had spread very quickly in Wengen since mid-December. In just four weeks, over 60 cases were reported within the Wengen population, after there had previously been almost no cases. Financial consequences for Wengen are manageable The program would have included two downhill runs and a slalom in the Bernese Oberland from Friday to Sunday. No spectators would have been allowed. The organizers now benefit from the fact that the insurance, which is valid until 2021, also covers the cancellation of the races due to a pandemic. The financial consequences should therefore be manageable. From a sporting perspective, the cancellation is of course a serious slap in the face for the Swiss ski nation. Tight program in Kitzbühel The double World Cup in Kitzbühel begins on Saturday with the slalom (Wengen replacement), before the actual Hahnenkamm slalom takes place on Sunday. The first downhill training on the Streif is scheduled for Tuesday in a week (January 19th), with more to follow on Wednesday and Thursday. The two downhill runs will take place on Friday (Wengen replacement) and Saturday before a Super-G takes place on Sunday. If everything goes according to plan, the speed specialists would have to race down the Streif six times in six days.

“In such an extraordinary situation, courageous decisions are required” ÖSV President Peter Schröcksnadel Peter Schröcksnadel © APA / GEORG HOCHMUTH

“In such an extraordinary situation, courageous decisions are required. I am very sorry for Switzerland, but based on the good cooperation with Swiss-Ski and our reliable partners in Austria, we were able to make this far-reaching decision," ÖSV President Peter Schröcksnadel was quoted as saying in a press release.

“This decision was necessary” FIS racing director Markus Waldner FIS racing director Markus Waldner spoke of a “very difficult” season. “But this decision was necessary. “Being ready for flexibility and short-term changes was the motto for the season right from the start,” said the man from Brixen and particularly thanked the ÖSV and the Kitzbüheler Ski Club. “Making and implementing such short-term decisions is an Austrian and Kitzbühel specialty.”

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ÖSV President Schröcksnadel: “I’m very sorry for Switzerland”

Kitzbühel is now taking over two of the three Alpine Ski World Cup races that were canceled in Wengen after a Corona surge. This announcement came less than an hour after the official cancellation in Wengen. This is a hard blow for the Swiss ski nation.

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