7 June 2021
Ski jumping fans will get to witness the sport at a summer multi-sports event after the European Olympic Committees (EOC) announced the inclusion of the sport as part of the European Games 2023 programme, making it the 17th sport to be announced in recent weeks.
Although traditionally a winter sport, the Fédération Internationale de Ski (FIS) already organises a Ski Jumping Summer Grand Prix and the addition of the European Games into the calendar will be a great opportunity for the best European ski jumpers to show off their sport to new audiences.
"We are really looking forward to our Summer Ski Jumping competitions at the 2023 European Games," said FIS Ski Jumping Race Director Sandro Pertile. "I know that our athletes will really enjoy competing in this high-profile event during our summer competitions series. It is sure to be a memorable event for everyone."
The competition is set to take place in Zakopane, Poland, home to one of the best venues and facilities on the international circuit. Poland also boasts one of the leading teams in the world and will be hoping for some home medal success across a total of five individual and team events for men and women in 2023.
The inclusion of the event into the programme was welcomed by the Marshal of Małopolska who said: "I am delighted with the decision to include Ski Jumping in the programme of the 3rd European Games. For many years, this sport discipline has been very popular among fans and residents of Małopolska. I am convinced that it will be a world-class competition, which will be accompanied, as always, by a unique atmosphere in the stands."
Chair of the European Games Coordination Commission Hasan Arat (TUR) spoke fondly of the value of integrating ski jumping into the programme. "We always listen to our hosts when it comes to creating the most valuable and interesting sports programme possible. For Poland, ski jumping is one of their most successful sports and it will be great to see the fans coming to support this event in Zakopane. For the EOC, we are very happy to be bridging the gap between summer and winter sports and would like to thank FIS for their support in making this possible."
The European Games are the continent’s premier multisport event for elite athletes and are held every four years. Ski jumping is the 17th sport to be announced for the Games in Kraków-Małopolska and joins 3×3 basketball, archery, badminton, beach handball, boxing, canoe, cycling, karate, modern pentathlon, muaythai, padel, shooting, sports climbing, taekwondo, teqball and triathlon as sports already on the 2023 programme.
Your best source of news about the Olympics is www.aroundtherings.com, for subscribers only