FIFA "Think They Are Gods" -- Federations Focus

(ATR) International Ski Federation (FIS) president Gian Franco Kasper says FIFA president and fellow IOC member Sepp Blatter’s concern about a conflict between the Olympics and World Cup in 2022 is minimal.

FIFA is likely to move the 2022 World Cup into the winter in order to avoid the scorching summers in host Qatar. With that being a Winter Olympic year, some in the winter sports world have raised concerns about a conflict.

"I wrote on behalf of all winter sports federations to Mr. Blatter as soon as the Qatar issue arose. Quite strongly, I must admit," Kasper told DPA.

"The reaction was practically zero."

Kasper says FIFA sees itself as being above the Olympics.

"FIFA think they are gods and act accordingly ... If it turns out to be November or December, it would be difficult, but we could live with it. But what do you want to do? The only thing would be to remind the compatriots of Mr. Blatter that he is ruining winter sport.

"Winter sport doesn’t exist for his group, his board. FIFA has never listened to anyone. Football just happens to be that strong," Kasper said.

Nations Team Event Gains Momentum

Austria won the dual gender nations team event on Tuesday afternoon at the World Alpine Ski Championships in Vail, Colorado, a discipline which seems to be moving closer to Olympic status.

The event features two men and two women per nation competing in a head to head dual slalom format.

Canada took silver and Sweden bronze as sixteen nations participated in the elimination bracket format in front of a large crowd in Vail.

During his visit to Beaver Creek for the opening of the FIS world championships, IOC president Thomas Bach alluded to potential Olympic inclusion for the event.

"We’re discussing the program for 2018 and 2022 with FIS and you may have good news in the next couple of months," Bach said. "We’re hoping to finalize this with FIS before the IOC session in Kuala Lumpur in July.

Norwegian slalom star Leif Kristian Haugen would like to see the mixed gender event included in the Games.

"Now every team is putting in their best guys, it’s getting more and more prestigious, so I think it should be on the Olympic and world championship schedule," Haugen said. "We’re cheering the girls on, they’re cheering us on. I

think it’s great fun."

Marcel Hirscher and Nicole Hosp of Austria and Ted Ligety and Mikaela Shiffrin from the U.S., were among many top names that participated in the event in Vail.

Written by Nick Devlin and Brian Pinelli

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