Alexis Pinturault of France takes part in the Alpine Skiing Men's Downhill training at the National Alpine Skiing Centre in Yanqing District, Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 4, 2022. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen)
A different date would be set for the Beijing Winter Olympics me's downhill due to gusty winds on Sunday.
YANQING, Beijing, Feb. 6 (Xinhua) -- Gusty winds forced the Beijing Winter Olympics me's downhill to be delayed on Sunday.
The event was scheduled to open the Alpine skiing discipline at 11 a.m. on Sunday. The Jury of the competition announced delay three times on site, each by an hour, and called a postponement as the wind didn't lessen.
The organizers said a different date would be set after consulting with the IOC and the broadcasters.
International ski federation (FIS) Communication Director Jenny Wiedeke denied the accusation that the venue was unsuitable for Alpine skiing events after the third training was canceled on Saturday.
"We have been dealing with this situation all the time at the World Cups," said Wiedeke.
The men's downhill, considered as "the riband event" of the Alpine skiing, has been troubled many times in the previous Games. PyeongChang 2018 saw a postponement of four days while several other events, women's super-G included, were also moved to other days. ■
