By Philip O’Connor
ZHANGJIAKOU, China (Reuters) – Finland’s Olympic champion Iivo Niskanen is hoping his Norwegian rivals make it to the start line at the Beijing Games despite a COVID-19 outbreak that has wreaked havoc with their travel plans.
Three Norwegian skiers and a coach tested positive following their final pre-Olympic training camp in Seiser Alm, Italy, casting doubt over their participation in the Olympics.
“We have done everything we could to avoid getting infected, exactly as the Norwegians presumably did,” Niskanen told Finnish state broadcaster YLE after testing out the cross-country course in Zhangjiakou together with his sister Kerttu.
“It is everything other than an optimal situation when bunches (of skiers) drop off from the competitions, especially when they are asymptomatic, but there’s still time,” said Niskanen, who won gold in the men’s 50km race in Pyeongchang four years ago.
His sister, who won two silver medals at the Sochi Olympics in 2014, also expressed sympathy for her rivals.
“We are enemies out on the course, but you wouldn’t wish this on anyone. We have tried to do as well as we can and hope for the best,” Kerttu Niskanen said.
“When it comes to the Olympics, you want the best on the start line.”
(Reporting by Philip O’Connor, editing by Ed Osmond)
