The Council of the International Ski and Snowboard Federation met on Tuesday and Wednesday in Switzerland. A major issue was on the agenda: the conditions of participation of Belarusian and Russian athletes for the coming winter. The FIS Council has decided to open a door: athletes and support staff from both countries will be allowed to participate in FIS competitions this season if they sign a declaration of neutrality.
« Compliance with these principles of neutrality will be constantly monitored, and Sanctions will be applied in case of failure to comply. "No national symbols will be tolerated," warns the FIS. Their participation will remain limited to individual events. The organization has long resisted the return of Russians and Belarusians, but the Court of Arbitration for Sport had forced her to soften her stance last December. The World Cup season will officially open late October, in Sölden (Austria), with a giant slalom.
On a completely different subject, the FIS Council approved the principle ofIncrease the frequency of the World Championships They are currently held every two years, in odd-numbered years. They could also take place in even-numbered non-Olympic years starting in 2032.
