Lausanne (RWH) The International Bobsleigh & Skeleton Federation IBSF released the preliminary overall sports calendar for the Olympic Season 2021/2022.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the IBSF had to move the International Training Period at the Yanqing Sliding Center from March to early October 2021, which lasts now for three weeks (5 – 27 October 2021) and will finish with an International IBSF Sanctioned race.
Various versions regarding the BMW IBSF World Cup schedule were discussed within the IBSF Executive Committee and several aspects have been taken into consideration. One of them being the uncertainty about the general situation around the pandemic later in the year (and possible quarantine time) and at the same time the need for member federations to do an early and proper planning for the Olympic season with a qualification deadline of January 16th, 2022.
The 2020/21 season allowed the IBSF to host the full World Cup Series in Europe and react quickly on any changes around the pandemic at short notice. Staging the BMW IBSF Bobsleigh & Skeleton World Cup Series in Europe also in 2021/22 gives everyone involved more flexibility in case needed. A full Intercontinental Cup (Skeleton), North American Cup and European Cup Series will be staged, too. The North American tracks will be back on the World Cup circuit for the post-Olympic seasons.
BMW IBSF Bob & Skeleton World Cup Series
15 – 21 November 2021 TBC
22 – 28 November 2021 Innsbruck(Austria)
29 – 05 December 2021 Königssee (Germany)
06 – 12 December 2021 Winterberg (Germany)
13 – 19 December 2021 Altenberg (Germany)
27 – 02 January 2022 Sigulda (Latvia)
03 – 09 January 2022 Winterberg (Germany)
10 – 16 January 2022 St. Moritz (Switzerland)
European Championships:
10 – 16 January 2022 St.Moritz (Switzerland)
Junior World Championships:
17 – 23 January 2022 TBC
January 16 2022 will mark the qualification deadline for the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022, so all respective IBSF race series end this weekend. The IBSF Europe Cup Bobsleigh concludes in Winterberg (GER), the Skeleton athletes in Intercontinental Cup and Europe Cup have their last and deciding races in Königssee (GER). The host tracks for the IBSF North American Cup will be confirmed soon.
The Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 will take place for February 4-20, 2022.
Which tracks will host he Para Sport World Cup series (incl. Para World Championships) will be confirmed as soon as possible. Same applies for the Junior World Championships 2022 (January 17-23).
The IBSF is closely monitoring the situation around the COVID19-pandemic and will amend the planning and necessary prevention measures accordingly.
