World Para Snow Sports wrap up second online Nations Meetings

World Para Snow Sports held the annual Nations Meetings from 11 to 16 June 2021. 

Almost 90  representatives from about 50 National Paralympic Committees (NPCs) took part in the meetings. For the second consecutive year the meetings were held in an online format due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

There was a session dedicated to each of the Para snow sports with a Combined Nations Meeting wrapping up the proceedings on 16 June.

The four sessions offered an overview of the 2020-21 World Cup and Europa Cup seasons across Para alpine skiing, Para Nordic skiing and Para snowboard. They also set the direction for sports development over the next seasons.

Recent decisions from the Working Groups and Sport Technical Committees of the different Para snow sports were discussed. 

The meeting participants also received updates on upcoming competitions, including the Lillehammer 2021 World Para Snow Sports Championships, Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games and the 2023 World Para Snow Sports Championships to be co-hosted by Are and Ostersund, Sweden.

The Beijing 2022 Organising Committee gave an overview of venue preparedness during the Nations Meetings, noting that Para Nordic skiers will have an opportunity to try the venue at a ski test  in December 2021.

The postponed 2021 World Para Snow Sports Championships will now be held from 8 to 23 January 2022. The organising committee will host three digital seminars during fall 2021 in the lead up to the event, with dates to be confirmed shortly. The seminars will offer more information about the competition and feature interviews with athletes and sports professionals.

A Para Nordic Skiing Camp will also be held in the lead-up to the event. Scheduled from 22 to 28 November on snow in Lillehammer, the camp will give 25 to 30 athletes who are future medal prospects an opportunity to work with top-level coaches in the best training conditions.