(ATR) It’s after this winter sports season that IOC president Jacques Rogge will decide which events to add to the Olympic program ahead of Sochi 2014.
The list includes 10: women's ski jumping (which was turned down twice in its efforts to get on the Vancouver program), ski halfpipe (men and women), ski slopestyle (men and women), snowboard slopestyle (men and women), biathlon mixed team relay, figure skating team event and luge team relay.
Only a proposed alpine team event was rejected when the IOC Executive Board met in October on the sidelines of the ANOC general assembly in Acapulco. There, the EB voted to delay the final determination and let Rogge alone decide.
The IOC president has no quota to fill, however. He could pick one, he could pick 10 or he could pick none.
Chances to impress on Rogge are running out. Each winter sports season is either in its homestretch or hitting the halfway point. Over the next few weeks, races will be run, opinions will be formed and the program for Sochi will soon be decided.
Here’s where action stands within each of the seven federations:
International Biathlon Union (IBU)
Tarjei Boe of Norway and Kaisa Makarainen of Finland sit atop the standings after four World Cup events. Five WC races remain in Ruhpolding, Germany; Antholz-Anterselva, Italy; Presque Isle, Maine; Fort Kent, Maine; and Oslo, Norway as well as the March 15-20 world championship in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia.
International Bobsleigh and Tobogganing Federation (FIBT)
Martins Dukurs of Latvia is winning men’s skeleton, Anja Huber of Germany women’s skeleton, Manuel Marchata of Germany both two- and four-men bobsleigh, and Sandra Kiriasis of Germany women’s bob.
Four WC events remain in Igls, Austria; Winterberg, Germany; St. Moritz; and Cesana, Italy as well as the Feb. 14-27 world championship in Koenigsee, the venue proposed for the Munich bid to host the 2018 Winter Games.
World Curling Federation (WCF)
Canada has a comfortable lead over Norway in the men’s world rankings, and Sweden edges out Canada in the women’s. Remaining events include the Continental Cup this weekend in St. Albert, Canada and the junior world championship March 5-13 in Perth, Scotland as well as world championships for women March 18-27 in Esbjerg, Denmark and for men April 2-10 in Regina, Canada. World championships for mixed doubles as well as seniors will follow April 15-24 in St. Paul, Minnesota.
International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF)
The under-20 world championships just wrapped up last week in New York, where Russia trailed Canada by three goals in the third period but came back to win the gold medal match 5-3. Canada also lost last week in the finals of the women’s under-18 tournament in Sweden, this time to the U.S.
IIHF’s world championships for men’s under-18 men, women and men all begin in late April. The U-18 is slated for April 14-24 in Germany, the women April 16-25 in Switzerland and the men April 29 through May 15 in Slovakia.
International Luge Federation (FIL)
After five World Cup events, Armin Zoeggeler of Italy is leading the men’s standings, Tatjana Huefner of Germany the women’s, Wendl and Arlt Tobias of Germany the doubles, and Germany the team relay.
Four WC races remain in Oberhof, Germany; Altenberg, Germany;Paramonovo, Russia; and Sigulda, Latvia as well as the Jan. 29-30 world championshipin Cesana, where an IOC delegation will be on-hand to evaluate the Olympic suitability of luge team relay.Three weekends later, Rogge will be in Sigulda to form his own opinion.
International Skating Union (ISU)
After five World Cup speed skating events, Joji Kato of Japan tops the standings in the men’s 500m, Lee Kyu-Hyeok of South Korea the 1,000m, Shani Davis of the U.S. the 1,500m, Bob de Jong of Netherlands the 5,000m and 10,000m, and the U.S. the team pursuit.
In women’s action, Jenny Wolf of Germany leads the 500m, Heather Richardson of the U.S. the 1,000m, Christine Nesbitt of Canada the 1,500m, Stephanie Beckert of Germany the 3,000m and 5,000m, and Netherlands the team pursuit. Three WC races remain: Jan. 28-30 in Moscow, Feb. 18-19 in Salt Lake City and March 4-6 in Heerenveen, Netherlands.
Figure skating held its Grand Prix finals Dec. 9-12 in Beijing and has two major events approaching: the European championships Jan. 24-30 in Bern, Switzerland and the Four Continents championships Feb. 15-20 in Chinese Taipei.
International Ski Federation (FIS)
Ivica Kostelic of Croatia sits atop the men’s World Cup standings and Maria Riesch of Germany edges out Lindsey Vonn of the U.S. atop the women’s.
The alpine season still has two more months of WC action as well as a Feb. 8-20 world championship in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Munich 2018’s proposed venue.
Snowboarding has its world championships next week in La Molina, Spain and freestyle skiing follows Jan. 30-Feb. 5 in Deer Valley, Utah. Cross-country, ski jump and Nordic combined are bundled into a single world championship slated for Feb. 22-March 6 in Oslo.
Written by Matthew Grayson.
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