In the last two weeks, the Cross-Country Technical Delegates (TD) held several seminars on two continents. In La Clusaz (FRA), the Central European TDs conducted their update from October 17-19 while a week later the Russian-speaking countries carried out their TD seminar in Sochi (RUS) and the Japanese and Chinese TDs staged an education seminar in Tokyo (JPN).
In La Clusaz, 50 participants from 10 countries attended the seminar led by Karl-Heinz Lickert, Chairman of the Sub-Committee for Rules and Control. Despite the large number of participants, a fruitful workshop with lots of discussion, team exercises and information exchange took place. The agenda considered items such as grooming, team captains meeting preparation, rules update and sanctions as well as an exam for the new Cross-Country TDs.
One week later, over 80 attendees from Russia, Ukraine and Belarus gathered in Sochi for the FIS TD Seminar which was organized by FIS and the Russian Ski Association. The seminar focused both on TD education and building the Sochi 2014 team. In effect, it can be viewed as the launch of an education program building up to the 2014 Olympic Winter Games. Together with Vladimir Loginov, President of the Russian Ski Association and Denis Polykov, Sports Director for Sochi 2014, the participants had the pleasure of visiting the Olympic Cross-Country venue at Krasnaya Polyana.
In Tokyo, a total of 31 participants from Japan and China attended the session led by Tomas Jons from Sweden. Focus of the seminar was on TD administration matters and sanctions whilst the practical part was held outside where the participants set up a team sprint stadium on a soccer field. The group demonstrated great enthusiasm in Cross-Country Skiing and we can now look forward to an exciting season 2008-2009, with the FISU Universiade in Harbin/Yabuli (CHN) as the main event in Asia.
Beside the three mentioned sessions, other successful FIS Cross-Country TD Seminars were held in the last months in Falls Creek (AUS) and Lahti (FIN).
Source: FIS
