Jelena Vlbe will not continue as a member of the FIS board. It became clear after Välbe received the fewest votes of all relevant candidates during Thursday’s FIS congress.
The result caused much of the Russian ski community to react strongly.
– This decision is in accordance with the policies of many foreign countries. I think representatives of other countries, who are on the FIS Council, are pressured, said Russia cross country skiingssjefen in Borodavko juryto the Championship.
RESPONSE: Russia’s cross-country manager believes everyone will lose in the Välbe election defeat. Photo: Torstein Bøe / NTB
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Bad news
The vice-president of the Russian Ski Federation, Sergei Kryanin, also strongly opposed the result.
– I think this is a political decision. It shouldn’t be like that, he said Championship and thought everyone would lose because of it:
– In this situation, everyone loses: the International Federation and our athletes. They have to compete in different parts of the world, gather the strongest and show who is the best, Kryanin said.
Former world champion Alexei Petukhov believes Välbe will not be re-elected due to sanctions against Russia.
– This is bad news. In this case, we will not be able to do anything until there is a revolution in the economic situation in the world, Petukhov told Championat.
– BAD NEWS: Russia Alexei Petukhov is not happy with today’s news. Photo:
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He was supported by former Russian cross-country skier Alexander Panzjinsky.
– We hoped that Välbe’s personal presence would help, but as we saw it, it didn’t.
– I do not understand why it was done. By not bringing Russia to the FIS Council, they cut off the country from all decisions and deprived them of their right to vote on serious matters. There is total discrimination and the FIS has shown its true face, Panzjinsky is raging Championship.
– Not personally
Erik Røste is the only Norwegian representative on the board and was re-elected by a nice margin on Thursday. He stated earlier that he would not vote for Vlbe. Norwegian Ski Association Secretary General Ingvild Bretten Berg was also present.
– The FIS Congress clearly distanced itself from the situation and regime in Russia by voting. “In Norway, we have been clear that this is our position, therefore we are pleased with the clear signal given by the vote,” Bretten Berg told Dagbladet.
– Voting in congress is not private. Välbe and other candidates who were not elected to the FIS board found him very professional, he continued.
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