Olympic medalist, International Ski Federation (FIS) executive committee member Alexander Panzhinsky talked about the impact of Russian athletes’ absence from tournaments on the organization.
“The loss of Russia is very important for cross-country skiing. They said that they lost a huge audience in the executive board and they suffered financial losses due to the sale of television broadcasting rights. Understand that interest in racing has waned this season due to a lack of competition.
A parallel can be drawn with foreign trade leaving Russia. Yes, they lose 7-8 percent of their annual income. This is very, but not super critical,” says Panzhinsky “Sports Express”.
Recall that the FIS decided to exclude Russian and Belarusian athletes from international competitions until the end of last season, and then extended the sanctions. They missed the final stages of the 2021/22 World Cup. Also, Russian skiers are not taking part in the new season 2022/23, but they are focusing on local starts.
At the end of January, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) considered the return of the Russians as neutral athletes.
Formerly Yuri Borodavko He expressed hope that Olympic champion Alexander Bolshunov would not finish his career without international tournaments..
Source: Gazeta
Gregory Robert is a sports aficionado and a writer for “Social Bites”. He provides in-depth coverage of the latest sporting events and trends, offering a unique and knowledgeable perspective on the world of sports.