Press release 8th July 2022

WOMEN’S NORDIC COMBINED OUT OF THE OLYMPICS
DE GODENZ: VAL DI FIEMME DISAGREES

IOC decided a few days ago to leave out Women NC from Olympics
Fiemme O.C. and De Godenz disagree
Important investments on Predazzo’s hills
Time to work for 2023 Tour de Ski from 6th to 8th January 

Val di Fiemme’s sport history crosses with Nordic Ski World Cups, World Championships and the upcoming Olympic Games of Milano-Cortina 2026.
Fiemme Ski World Cup committee with its president Bruno Felicetti, together with the Ski Promotion Committee led by Pietro De Godenz (already president of the O.C. proposing World Championships in 2003 and 2013) are already projecting to the Olympic event. Nevertheless, not forgetting the closer World Cup events as the Tour de Ski, assured until 2028.
But… here is the “but”. Pietro De Godenz is another voice beyond many arising against these new decisions taken by IOC, as the one not including the women’s Nordic Combined competitions in the 2026 Olympic Games. Such a loss for Italian sport and for Val di Fiemme, with its two home stars Annika Sieff and Veronica Gianmoena.
“The so-called gender equality – underlines De Godenz – is missing here. Women have already taken part in World Cup, World Championships and EYOF - European Youth Olympic Festival. Women athletes are more every day and 2026 Olympics were the goal, above all after Losanna Youth Olympic Games. We totally disagree on this decision.”
The exclusion of the Women’s NC also affects investments’ sustainability. Predazzo’s hills need expensive works in order to adequate to actual norms. The idea of excluding men too in 2030 is a real cheap shot. NC entered Olympic Games in Chamonix 1924 with 30 athletes and 9 countries. In Beijing nations were 18 with 55 athletes. As far as women are concerned, at the Oberstdorf World Championships in 2021, on a pandemic-related year, there were 30 athletes representing 10 countries.
Therefore, this all leads to highlight how wrong this decision was according to many people, and how much it badly affects women sport promotion. As a matter of fact, Val di Fiemme will spread this discipline among youths, with Predazzo’s Ski Jumping Stadium having a central role. 
In the meantime, the O.C. is working for the 17th Tour de Ski, taking place from 6th to 8th January 2023.
Info: www.fiemmeworldcup.com