In order to make the sport more interesting for TV viewers, the World Cross-Country Federation announced some changes in spring 2022. But these are not well received everywhere. The Norwegian camp, for example, once again expressed serious concerns about the new rules.
Cross-country skiing has fallen in favor with spectators in recent years. In Norway, Sweden and Russia, the viewing figures were still good, but even in the cross-country strongholds, the popularity was declining.
To counteract this trend, new race distances were introduced by the world association. Men and women now run the same distances, the long and exhausting “50s” have almost all been deleted from the calendar without replacement. The problem with this: The rule changes only apply to the World Cup. At the 2023 World Championships in Planica, on the other hand, the old distances will be run, which are no longer taken into account in the World Cup.
“I think it’s not happy when 100 percent of the distances we run at the World Championships aren’t run in the World Cup. I think that’s problematic and will probably be a whole new challenge,” said Norway national coach Eirik Myhr Nossum in an interview with “TV2” concerns about the new FIS regulations.
Rules give Norway coach “headache”
In order not to be completely thrown in at the deep end at the World Cup, the Norwegians have already taken a number of measures. For example, the national championships do not run the new World Cup distances, but the World Championship distances. “We would also like to have this opportunity at the highest level in the World Cup,” said the coach of Team Norge, who got “headaches” in view of the targeted preparation for the World Cup by his protégés in view of the different distances.
Since ultimately all nations will have this problem, Myhr Nossum doesn’t want to complain too loudly. “I’m sure the athletes we send to the World Cup will be quite competitive,” said the coach.