Soelden gondola accident won't affect World Cups, says Kasper

Soelden gondola accident won’t affect World Cups, says Kasper{mosimage}The deadly gondola accident at Soelden earlier this month will not alter the FIS’s plans to host two World Cup races there in October, the FIS president Gian Franco Kasper says.

“The incident was tragic, but will not influence our racers,” Kasper said in a recent phone interview with Ski Racing magazine. “This was a construction accident and nothing to do with the FIS.”

Soelden is a busy site for top athletes in October. Ski manufacturers test new equipment, teams conduct qualification races and two World Cup races, snowboard and alpine, take place.

The cable car that had the accident may not be running in October, but skiers will still be able to access the competition venues, Kasper says.

“We have nothing planned,” says Kasper, asked if there were any memorials planned for the nine people killed in the accident. “But if Soelden [race organizers] want to do something, like a moment of silence, we would certainly support this.”