The head of the Russian Cross-Country Skiing Federation (FLGR) Elena Vyalbe spoke about a global problem that the national team has been facing for many years. She is quoted by Match TV.
“We have a huge problem – there is not a single base, either federal or regional, in the highlands and in the middle mountains – at the level of 1,700 meters,” Välbe said. She noted that there were excellent training bases in Soviet times, but they remained in the former republics. Vyalbe added that over the 11 years of her leadership of the federation, three ministers of sports have already been replaced, but the problem has not been resolved.
The head of the FLGR noted that it is already important to think about the Olympic Games-2026 in Italy now. According to the specialist, preparing on the plains, the national team will not be able to perform well on the high-mountain track. “They reproach us that we are often at training camps outside of Russia, but, unfortunately, we have no other choice,” Vyalbe shared.
In March, Välbe said she considered Norwegian asthmatic athletes to receive therapeutic exemptions as a loophole for victory. The Norwegian national team trains on an equal footing with the Russian team, however, according to the specialist, therapeutic exceptions become legal doping, which helps them defeat their rivals.
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