(Beijing) The men’s 50 km, the queen event of cross-country skiing at the Olympic Games scheduled for Saturday, has been reduced to 30 km due to weather conditions, announced the organizers of the Olympic Games-2022.
Posted at 12:40 a.m.
“Due to the strong winds and as a result of the extreme conditions in which the race will take place, the originally planned distance of 50 km has been reduced to 30 km,” they explained.
“The decision was made to ensure the safety of the athletes and to reduce the time they will spend exposed to extreme conditions,” the statement continued.
The start time of the event has also been changed. It will begin at 3 p.m. local time (2 a.m. ET), instead of 2 p.m.
The organizers have clarified that they could also adapt the women’s 30 km program scheduled for Sunday, the last event on the program of the 2022 Olympics.
The 50 km, now 30 km, should serve as the final explanation between the two stars of cross-country skiing, the Russian Alexander Bolshunov and the Norwegian Johannes Klaebo, four medals, including two titles, each during these Games.