IFSC HOLDS TELECONFERENCE WITH OLYMPIC QUALIFIED ATHLETES TO CONFIRM THEIR STATUS
The International Federation of Sport Climbing held a teleconference on March 27 at 2:00 pm (UTC+1:00), welcoming 15 of its Olympic qualified athletes.
Among the participants, Sean McColl of Canada, President of the IFSC Athletes Commission; Shauna Coxsey of Great Britain, Vice-President of the IFSC Athletes Commission; Julia Chanourdie of France; Ludovico Fossali of Italy; Janja Garnbret of Slovenia; Jan Hojer of Germany; Rishat Khaibullin of Kazakhstan; Petra Klingler of Switzerland; Sylvain Chapelle representing Bassa Mawem of France; Aleksandra Miroslaw of Poland; Akiyo Noguchi of Japan; Adam Ondra of the Czech Republic; Laura Rogora of Italy; Jakob Schubert of Austria and Alannah Yip of Canada.
IFSC President Marco Scolaris, IFSC General Director Piero Rebaudengo, IFSC Head of Olympic Coordination Jerome Meyer and IFSC Sport Director Silvia Verdolini also attended the call.
Following the decision to postpone the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, Mr. Scolaris informed the athletes that on March 26 he attended a teleconference with IOC President Thomas Bach and the presidents of all the Summer Olympic Federations, confirming that all the Olympic qualified athletes – 15 men and 15 women so far, all confirmed by their respective NOCs – will maintain their status. Mr. Scolaris also addressed the issue of the four remaining continental championships to be organised, the IFSC is working to run the events by the end of the year.
The IFSC President also praised the National Federations and Event Organisers that are willing to host events in the upcoming months.
Speaking of Tokyo 2020, Mr. Meyer confirmed that the climbing infrastructure will remain in place, but some actions might be taken to protect the walls during the next months.
Mrs. Verdolini added that holds have already been shipped to Tokyo and they will be safely kept there until next year.
The President of the IFSC Athletes Commission Sean McColl also intervened, sharing a positive message and shifting the focus on the 2020 IFSC Season, which will resume as soon as the circumstances will allow.
The teleconference closed with a quick Q&A session.
IFSC President Marco Scolaris said:
“It was quite strange to meet our athletes via the computer and not on the field of play, in a gym or at a crag. In any case, I was happy to share some information with them and I think we might have more of these meetings, especially in these hard times, when the scenario is changing almost every day.”
