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At the Worldloppet AGM in France this weekend, the representives decided to integrate the system of FIS-Points to Worldloppet. This should make the popular races more attractive also for elite skiers and young athletes.

Every athlete who wants to get eligibility for competitions like Worldcup, World Championships or Olympic Games has to collect FIS-Points. This system was established for comparing the performances of the athletes considering the competitors quality, the difficulty of the race itself and the type of race. The ranking is not only used for eligibilities for bigger competitions, but also for decisionmaking regarding Nationalteams. Furthermore the FIS-Point system is in use to determine a proper and fair starting order. For this purposes the points have been distributed for years at Worldcups, Europacups, Continental Cups and at the FIS Marathon Cup competitions. But from now on the system is integrated at all the Worldloppet races as well which means that all athletes with a valid FIS-code (to order at the National Ski Association) are able to collect FIS-Points at all the WL-competitions from China to Australia, from Norway to Italy, from Argentina to New Zealand, simply all over the world.

“Gathering FIS-Points is very important, especially for young athletes or those who are about to enter the red group. The Worldloppet competitions are a favourable possibility for them to collect points!” says Angelo Corradini, WL Secretary General. 

First there have been some concerns that specially the Southern hemisphere races could have timing problems with implementing the system, but since the delegates from New Zealand, Australia and Argentina have approved the decision, the matter was concluded. Corradini indeed expects some troubles during the first year of using FIS-Points, but he is confident that the system once implemented will work out well and provide a benefit for the athletes as well as for the races. 

AGM in France

This decision was made this Sunday by the organisation committees of the WL-races who gathered this weekend in Champagnole (FRA) in the mountains of Jura, for the WL Annual General Meeting. The meeting hosted by La Transjurassienne was attended not only by 19 of the 20 WL members (Sapporo was missing) but also by representives from FIS and by CHAUVET BENOIT (FRA), last years FIS Marathon Cup Overall 2nd, who represented the athletes point of view, while the nordicTV came for a visit and produced a TV spot. Many innovations regarding the competitions, the FIS Marathon Cup, the staff and the upcoming season were decided and will be announced soon. Besides working the delegates had some spare time to visit a cheese aging cellar and the UNESCO World Heritage Citadelle Besancon.