Winter Olympic Games Milano Cortina 2026 Qualification Simulation Road to Milano Cortina 2026

[avlar 453]

4 minutes ago, copravolley said:

A few years ago, I read that Berlusconi visited Putin in Crimea- but in that time he no longer held any office in Italy. In theory, should he be banned from entering Ukraine?

Surely ) It is the same way as someone who breaches the rule of Shengen zone gots ban and cannot enter it (as far as I read it happened to Sadulaev - so he cannot take part in most events in Europe).

By the way, Bolshunov is on our sanction list.

[copravolley 498]

8 minutes ago, avlar said:

Surely ) It is the same way as someone who breaches the rule of Shengen zone gots ban and cannot enter it (as far as I read it happened to Sadulaev - so he cannot take part in most events in Europe).

By the way, Bolshunov is on our sanction list.

Ustjugov? I would agree to Ustjugov joining the Italian National Team for training, but only if he gets our citizenship and  starts running for us. I see no reason to help such a some rich federation as Russia, especially during a war. Eiduka is a different story, because the Latvian federation is poor, and she has no one to train with her: she used to train with Poland, then Norway and now Italy. Poor girl, having to wander around Europe her whole life  

Edited September 23 by copravolley

[avlar 453]

7 minutes ago, copravolley said:

Ustjugov? I would agree to Ustjugov joining the Italian National Team for training, but only if he gets our citizenship and  starts running for us. I see no reason to help such a some rich federation as Russia, especially during a war. Eiduka is a different story, because the Latvian federation is poor, and she has no one to train with her: she used to train with Poland, then Norway and now Italy. Poor girl, having to wander around Europe her whole life  

He is in the past. It looks like he would not get a spot in russian natioal team fror the major event.

Yes, and it is a pity that the geograpy of ski decreased last 25 years. I rememver times when Italian relay was on the top over Norway, when Estonia was a big power, when Finland had more then 1 top-skier, our Shevchenkp was fightng for the Globe, Canada was strong in sprints.

And now even Sweden is struggling in men`s events...

[copravolley 498]

7 minutes ago, avlar said:

He is in the past. It looks like he would not get a spot in russian natioal team fror the major event.

Yes, and it is a pity that the geograpy of ski decreased last 25 years. I rememver times when Italian relay was on the top over Norway, when Estonia was a big power, when Finland had more then 1 top-skier, our Shevchenkp was fightng for the Globe, Canada was strong in sprints.

And now even Sweden is struggling in men`s events...

Until 2006 we regularly stood on the podium in the men's relay at the Olympics: the last time we won gold in Turin, but later became a black hole for us, except for one Pellegrino – I could say that the last 10-15 years in Italian cross-country skiing were essentially Federico Pellegrino and almost nothing. Francesco de Fabiani had great potential in the distances, but injuries ruined his career.

Edited September 23 by copravolley

[avlar 453]

FIS decision on russian athletes at 2026 is postponed and expected at the 21th of October.

It makes their potential qualification rather difficult because there atr only 3 stages to get qualification points in cross-countrt: Ruka, Trondheim and Davos. And it is questionable talking about visas.

Other ski and snowboard sports are on hold too but their qualification deadlines are later.

[avlar 453]

On 9/23/2025 at 6:06 PM, copravolley said:

Until 2006 we regularly stood on the podium in the men's relay at the Olympics: the last time we won gold in Turin, but later became a black hole for us, except for one Pellegrino – I could say that the last 10-15 years in Italian cross-country skiing were essentially Federico Pellegrino and almost nothing. Francesco de Fabiani had great potential in the distances, but injuries ruined his career.

I suppose I can recall Italian relay squads without going to Wikipedia.

Fauner vs Daehli at the finish line - was something out of this world!

I really miss that moment. Any chance for some breakthrough at or after home Olympics?

[copravolley 498]

27 minutes ago, avlar said:

I suppose I can recall Italian relay squads without going to Wikipedia.

Fauner vs Daehli at the finish line - was something out of this world!

I really miss that moment. Any chance for some breakthrough at or after home Olympics?

Bronze would be a miracle, but I don't think so. Our runners are too inconsistent and injury-prone. It would take two or three Pellegrinos to win a medal, but obviously not gold. For women, nothing is even possible. The chances are better in biathlon these times. Overall, I'm pessimistic: we will probably win a lot of medals, but not many golds. Brignone will probably drop out, Goggia could fall at any moment, knowing her history, short track is a lottery and in speed skating the young Czech is already starting to dominate on long distances. We can't prepare very good for our home Olympics – it was the same in 2006. France could do it in 2024, the UK in 2012, China in 2008, etc. France will do the same in the winter OG in 2030, revitalizing its entire winter sport, just like it did in summer recently. Macron is a weak president, but in terms of sports development he is a great choice - I would like to have someone like him in my office

Edited September 26 by copravolley

[heywoodu 15,997]

On 9/23/2025 at 5:30 PM, avlar said:

I would add: not only Bolshunov should stay home. Almost all russian A team used occupied Crimea as their training camp.
Look at these names. 
 

 

Just as a matter of clarity: "they started a training camp"? Or were they told by the Russian federation to go have a training camp there?

[copravolley 498]

5 minutes ago, heywoodu said:

Just as a matter of clarity: "they started a training camp"? Or were they told by the Russian federation to go have a training camp there?

Bolshunov went in rallies with Putin in 2022, just after beginning the war, so there are no illusions. If he's allowed to compete, they shouldn't make fools of themselves with talk of neutral athletes, etc. Bolshunov is the last person who should be allowed to start in OG.

Edited September 26 by copravolley

[heywoodu 15,997]

7 minutes ago, copravolley said:

Bolshunov went in rallies with Putin in 2022, just after beginning the war, so there are no illusions. If he's allowed to compete, they shouldn't make fools of themselves with talk of neutral athletes, etc. Bolshunov is the last person who should be allowed to start in OG.

Yeah, sure, but my question was meant out of curiousity, not as part of the whole "should they/should they not" discussion  (because it does make a difference if they decided to go there themselves, or if the federation sent them)