Under the leadership of Chairman Vegard Ulvang (NOR), the FIS Cross-Country Committee spent time on finalizing the calendar (view it here http://www.fis-ski.com/data/document/cc0708.pdf ) for the upcoming season and reviewing rules for both the World Cup as well as the FIS Tour de Ski. As part of next season’s schedule, it decided to introduce a three-day competition series as an end of the season highlight, the so-called ‘FIS World Cup Finale’.
The Finale will start with a prologue in the classical style, continue with another distance race and culminate in a handicap start over 10km / 15 km in the free technique. Overall World Cup points will be awarded only after the last competition with the factor of two which means that the winner will get 200 points for the competition weekend. The total prize money (both genders) for the Finals weekend will be CHF 240’000.
The Committee also appointed Karl-Heinz Lickert (GER) as its Vice Chairman. Moreover, it decided to continue the trials for changing skis in the middle of the race, this time in a mass start event as well. Finally, to reduce accidents, it was decided that the athlete support staff must stand in their place in the feeding zone rather than running along with the athletes.
Source: FIS
