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‘Team Avalanche’ Unites Cross-Country Skiing Olympic Hopefuls From Small Countries
Team Avalanche’s 60+ members from over 40 countries share resources and coordinate logistics to help non-traditional winter athletes reach the Milan Cortina Olympics.
- Next month, Mexico's Allan Corona and South Africa's Matt C. Smith will compete at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics after WhatsApp group 'Team Avalanche' helped small-nation skiers qualify and coordinate travel.
- Formed amid isolation for skiers from non-traditional winter-sport countries, Team Avalanche now includes more than 60 members from more than 40 countries, providing peer support and shared knowledge.
- Seasonal gear costs 12,000 euros for skis and poles, plus three pairs of boots at 1,000 euros each, while Smith estimates $100,000 spent and weekends cost 1,000 euros in travel.
- After lobbying, World Cup races were added as qualifiers, fitting Olympic qualification criteria, and some members secured Milan Cortina spots while Smith amplified the sport through media.
- Sporting bodies are seeing benefits as new regions take up cross-country skiing and members amplify the story, with the IOC and global sport community gaining development and Lau pressing for easing qualification barriers.
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26 Articles
26 Articles
Associated Press News+20 Reposted by 20 other sources
'Team Avalanche' unites cross-country skiing Olympic hopefuls from small countries
Cross-country skiers from non-traditional winter sports countries have been helping each other out over the past year as they tried to qualify for the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.
·United States
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Washington Top News+4 Reposted by 4 other sources
‘Team Avalanche’ unites cross-country skiing Olympic hopefuls from small countries
Indian skier Bhavani Thekkada's lower leg was a mess at a race weekend in Finland — think blisters and blood. She turned to “Team Avalanche” on WhatsApp in…
·Washington, United States
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Total News Sources26
Leaning Left11Leaning Right0Center12Last UpdatedBias Distribution52% Center
Bias Distribution
- 52% of the sources are Center
52% Center
L 48%
C 52%
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