Ski Chief Fears NOC No-Shows for PyeongChang

(ATR) International Ski Federation president Gian-Franco Kasper says his biggest concern for PyeongChang 2018 is not the safety of the athletes due to escalating political tensions, but National Olympic Committees over-reacting and pulling out of the Games.

The outspoken ski chief and IOC executive board member also said that Sapporo is the strongest candidate for the 2026 Winter Games.

Kasper addressed national ski federations, World Cup race organizers, media and other attendees at the annual FIS Forum Alpinum in Soelden, Austria ahead of this weekend’s season opening giant slalom races.

"A lot of people fear going to Korea, but I will say it will be the safest place in the world to go in February," Kasper said while onstage with Eurosport ski commentator Nick Fellows.

"With those two political mosquitoes you never know what they will do, but I can guarantee you that from the IOC point of view there is absolutely no Plan B," Kasper said, referring to U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

"I don’t fear for the safety of our athletes, our biggest problem to my mind is our own national ski associations – the national Olympic committees…there will be some that will refuse to send our young athletes to Korea because of fear of the politics in the region," Kasper said.

"We already see some nations that have started to declare that and if that happens then the Games and all of us will be hurt," he said.

The Swiss FIS chief said that while he was more than satisfied with the 30 or so test events that were successfully staged in PyeongChang last winter, international ticket sales for the Games are poor.

"Ticket sales to foreign spectators, which is almost zero, is understandable – people don’t want to go to South Korea or Korea in general.

"It’s a pity, but of course the Koreans will probably make it up with their own people – at least I hope so because we don’t want empty stadiums.

"But let’s be optimistic and have great fun and great sport there."

However, Kasper himself admitted he is not optimistic about the road ahead in determining a host for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games.

"I hope we will have some candidates – at least one or two for the Games in 2026, but to be very honest I am not very optimistic at this point," he said, adding that potential candidate cities view the costs of hosting as being too high following Sochi 2014.

An Innsbruck 2026 bid was the latest to falter after a referendum in the province of Tirol that resulted in nearly 54 percent against hosting the Games.

"The most promising candidate we have for 2026 is Sapporo, so who knows we might be going to Asia for a fourth [consecutive] time," Kasper opined, neglecting to mention the Sion bid in his native Switzerland.

"We see middle or central Europe is not interested in the Games anymore."

In closing, pressed by Eurosport’s Fellows, Kasper would not reveal whether he will seek another term as president at next May’s FIS Congress in Greece.

"It is possible I could be going, but it is also possible that I could be staying," said the 73-year-old Swiss leader, who was elected to the post in May 1998.

"I would never announce it now, because then I’d be a lame duck for the rest of the year."

AUDI and FIS Extend Partnership

Kasper confirmed that he signed an extension with FIS Ski World Cup title sponsor Audi through the 2021/22 season. The 16th season of the longstanding partnership kicks off this weekend in Soelden.

"The future is bright and always has been bright," Kasper said of the continuing journey with Audi.

"This allows Audi to be and stay the leading partner of international winter sports," said Thomas Glas, Audi AG director of sports marketing. "Our role as the title sponsor of the FIS Alpine World Cup is one of the highlights of our extensive engagement."

Shiffrin Begins Title Defense in Soelden

Olympic and defending overall World Cup title champion Mikaela Shiffrin was honored by the Association of International Ski Journalists (AIJS) on Friday.

The 22-year-old U.S. skier was elected as the 2017 recipient of the ‘Skieur d’Or – AIJS Trophy Serge Lang’ award for her excellence both on and off the slopes.

Shiffrin, who has also claimed the past four World Cup slalom titles, begins her overall title defense on the steep and sustained Rettenbach Glacier giant slalom course on Saturday.

"I'm ready to take on this hill – I really love this hill & hope that the weather holds up for us and the guys," Shiffrin said.

Potential snowfall, which could pose problems for organizers, is in the forecast, although predominantly for Sunday.

Numerous top skiers are not racing in Soelden while on the mend from various injuries. Former overall World Cup winners Anna Veith of Austria and Lara Gut of Switzerland will sit Saturday’s race out.

Six-time defending men’s overall World Cup champion Marcel Hirscher of Austria is also sidelined, hoping to return to competition in Colorado next month.

Written and reported by Brian Pinelli in Soelden

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