POSTED: February 6th 2010
NewsUpdate
British team to ski on at Vancouver despite financial collapse of Snowsport
KEIR RADNEDGE / Sports Features Communications
LONDON, Feb 06: With perfectly imperfect timing, Britain’s skiers and snowboarders heading for the Winter Olympics have lost their governing body after Snowsport GB was placed in administration.
The 14 will still compete at the Vancouver Games, which open next Friday, thanks to a contingency plan being put in place by the British Olympic Association.
This rescue plan should ensure that the athletes, coaches and support personnel continue to benefit for the next three weeks from the necessary resources and logistical support.
Britain's head skiing coach, Mark Tilston, described Snowsport’s collapse as a “disaster.” He added: “It’s very difficult to keep a clear head, a clear programme and stay focused on how to ski fast when a lot of energy is channelled into concern with what is happening tomorrow. We are talking about the careers of these skiers, it is not good news.”
The International Ski Federation (FIS) has endorsed the BOA’s move to mobilise a dormant subsidiary company, Team GB Ltd, to act as an emergency national governing body and undertake registration and race entries.
The Snowsport collapse is an unwelcome problem for BOA chief executive Andy Hunt ahead of his Olympic 'baptism' in the role. BOA chairman Colin Moynihan said: “It is with great regret that one of our governing bodies has gone into administration, particularly at such a critical time for our Olympic Team.
"The athletes and coaches can rest assured that we will work around the clock to support them and help ensure the best possible structure for going forward.”
Keywords · Winter Olympics · Vancouver · Moynihan · BOA · FIS · Snowsport · Tilson
For more information contact:
Laura Walden ()
All original materials contained in this section are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of Sports Features Communications, Inc the owner of that content. It is prohibited to alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content.
