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FIS release 2010 qualifying criteria

Canada’s snow athletes now know exactly what to shoot for next season if they want to compete in the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, with the Federation Internationale de Ski (FIS) releasing their qualifying criteria this week.

Canada’s snow athletes now know exactly what to shoot for next season if they want to compete in the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, with the Federation Internationale de Ski (FIS) releasing their qualifying criteria this week.

In alpine skiing, FIS capped the athlete quota at 320, with a maximum of 22 athletes per nation. Each team can have a maximum of 14 males or females on the team, and a maximum of four athletes per event.

The number of quota spots available to each national Olympic committee (NOC) is decided by one formula for Jan. 18, 2010, while athletes can meet the criteria from July 2008 to Jan. 25, 2010.

As the host nation, Canada is eligible to enter at least one athlete in each event, providing the athlete has been entered as part of the 22-athlete national quota.

For cross country, the number of athletes allowed is 310 with a maximum of 20 per NOC and a maximum of 12 males or 12 females per team. The format allows for up to four athletes in each of the individual events, and one team in the relay events.

Athletes who have a maximum of 100 FIS points can compete in the distance or sprint events, while athletes with a maximum of 120 sprint event points can only compete in Olympic sprint events.

Canada is again allowed to enter one competitor into each event that meets the minimum qualification, and that person is counted as a member of the 20 member national team.

Quota spots per nation will be confirmed by Jan. 22, 2010, while athletes will have from July 2008 to Jan. 25, 2010 to meet FIS criteria to compete.  

For ski jumping there is a maximum of 70 quota spots, and five athletes per NOC. Each nation can field a maximum of four athletes in any individual event, and one team of four in the large hill team competition.

As of yet, female ski jumping has not been included on the schedule for 2010, despite heavy international lobbying on behalf of the sport by Canada and other nations.

The quota spots will be determined by the World Ranking List and Continental Cup standings from the 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 seasons.

Quotas will be calculated by Jan. 18, 2010, and competitors can meet FIS standards from July of 2008 until Jan. 25, 2010.

Again, as the host nation Canada is expected to field at least one athlete in each event, as well as one team in the team event.

In Nordic combined, a mix of ski jumping and cross-country skiing, there is a maximum quota of 55, and five athletes per NOC. A maximum of four athletes per NOC can compete in any event, and one team of four in the long hill-4X5 km cross-country relay race.

Quota spots will be awarded based on the World Ranking List after the FIS World Cup event on Jan. 18, 2010, and athletes can qualify from July 2008 to Jan. 25, 2010. Again, Canada is expected to field one individual competitor and one team.

In freestyle, the total quota is 180 spots with a maximum of 30 athletes in moguls, 25 athletes in aerials, and 35 athletes in ski cross for both men and women. Each nation can enter a team of 18 athletes, with a maximum of 10 males or females per team, and a maximum of four athletes per event.

To qualify, athletes need to place in the top-30 in a World Cup or World Championship event, and require a minimum of 100 FIS points.

For Canada, which has won the Nations Cup the past two years and is leading again this season, it will be especially challenging to narrow down the field. It’s also one of the few sports where it won’t be hard to field a competitor in every event.

Quotas will be allocated according to World Cup standings and World Championships results first, and then by using the World Ranking List from a 12-month period from 2008-2009 to 2009-2010. By these criteria it’s possible for a country to qualify 24 people for the Games, which means it’s up to the NOC to select who gets to compete in 2010.

The allocation and qualifying periods are the same as other sports — Jan. 18, 2010 for quotas and Jan. 25, 2010 for athletes to meet criteria.

For snowboarding, FIS is allowing a total of 190 athletes — 30 men and women in parallel giant slalom, 40 in men’s halfpipe, 30 in women’s halfpipe, 35 in men’s snowboardcross, and 25 in women’s snowboardcross.

Each NOC is able to field a team of 18 athletes, with a maximum of 10 athletes per gender, and a maximum of four athletes per event.

To qualify, competitors need to place in the top-30 of a World Cup or World Championship event in the qualification period, and require a minimum of 100 FIS points.

The World Ranking List will determine how quota spots are awarded in a 12-month period from 2008-2009 to 2009-2010, ending on Jan. 18, 2010.

FIS criteria are only one of three criteria required to participate in the Games. In Canada, athletes also have to meet criteria set by the Canadian Olympic Committee, and by their national sport organizations (e.g. Alpine Canada, Canadian Freestyle Ski Association). Their criteria may take events like national championships and Nor Am Cup competitions into account, or reserve spots for athletes chosen by coaches.