Organizing World Cup events in Covid times - Davos Nordic

International Cross-Country competitions have taken place in Davos long before the FIS Cross-Country World Cup was established. The "Flüela" course has a unique history and tradition as the stage for the former "international Cross-Country days" which is todays "Davos Nordic" World Cup weekend. Throughout time, experiences from organizing Cross-Country competitions on the highest level have been passed on to passionate and engaged members of the local organizing committee. But in this year, also organizers faced a completely new situation.

FIS Cross-Country is very grateful to be working together in close exchange with highly dedicated teams of local organizers in order to provide safe World Cup events. Procedures behind the scenes, are nothing like anyone has ever experienced. Barbara Flury, CEO of Davos Nordic gave us an insight just before the season kicked off in Ruka (FIN), how she and her team team prepared for the upcoming special World Cup weekend.

FIS Cross-Country: Thank you for your time Barbara, we know you and your team are doing the utmost in order to make World Cup racing happening. What are the biggest difficulties for you right now?

Barbara Flury: There are several aspects to organizing a World Cup race. First of all, such a competition is not organized two weeks before the event. We enter the process for the upcoming races right after the previous ones finished. For us it is not a question of doing it or not.
Previously taken decisions changed multiple times during our preparation period and often it was decisions, that were not done by our team but by stakeholders or authorities above us. In this current situation, of course some things were basically decided for us and we had to deal with it.
Another point was to keep all staff and volunteers motivated as they also did not know what they prepared for. Our work as an organizing committee was basically to guide our boat through storm to reach the World Cup races taking place on the 12th and 13th December.

FIS Cross-Country: How different was the cooperation with the various stakeholders and official sites during this time?

Barbara Flury: We have a good cooperation with Swiss Ski, our national ski association. But above all is the federal government of Switzerland who decide what happens in our country. They finally decide if competitions can take place or not. If they leave it open to the different regions, our next instance is the Kanton of Graubünden that judges the situation. From our side, our main work was to keep up the communications and to interact with everyone involved.
Our health protection concept was approved by the Kanton of Graubünden who did not only see how much energy was put into it but saw that all processes have been thought through to ensure a safe platform for everybody. All included processes that we thought through carefully represent ways so that athletes and staff will feel safe in Davos and that we also can take the responsibility which is a heavy load that we carry on our shoulders as well.

FIS Cross-Country: Due to the current situation with Covid-19, have you discussed to change or cancel Davos Nordic, despite approval by the authorities?

Barbara Flury: It’s not so easy to change an event from one week to the other because there is a lot of planning around it. We have contracts with the companies and people around us. It needs a plan. We always wanted to make Davos Nordic happen and there are several reasons behind it. One is that we have a really experienced organizing committee behind Davos Nordic who is able to tackle those challenges and to provide safe surroundings for all teams, volunteers, officials and so on.
Another -  more personal - reason is, that there must be something in the world right now that is a little bit normal. Something that gives us this little piece of normal life because I believe it’s possible. And I would say that Cross-Country skiing is one of those sports that will survive this situation because you are outside, you can move and that is what we want to get out there: Cross-Country skiing is one of the good things you can do in those times now.

FIS Cross-Country: This season is a learning process. How is the exchange between the different World Cup organizers?

Barbara Flury: We really anticipated the feedbacks from Ruka. All LOC’s of the World Cup had a meeting in summer where we agreed to pass on feedbacks and to learn from each other. I guess it will be an advantage having an event in February or March because they will have a load of experiences from previous events. As an organizer at the beginning of the season, it’s more like sailing on open water.

FIS Cross-Country: What positives can you take out of the situation?

Barbara Flury: There are many positive moments in the current situation. I am pretty sure there will be no way back. As everyone, also we as an organizer have to re-think processes, constantly checking if our ideas make sense or not. But I would say life is about development. We can say YES to that or NO. I am one of those people who always say yes to it. There will always be changes but everyone of us can learn something. So you better say YES now and are already thinking about progress or say NO and make no progress.

FIS Cross-Country: What are your hopes for the future?

Barbara Flury: I hope that we all find a way through this Covid situation without blaming each other without fighting against each other. I hope we will find a way to live with it because it is not going to disappear. I hope for the sport to still be able to develop the sport aspects itself. We should not cover open cases in the sport field just because of Covid. Let’s find a way to work on these things as well and not to forget what we have to do for our sport.