As BarentsObserver has reported, the cross country skiing event Tour de Barents 2009, that was going to gather the world’s best cross country skiers to compete over five races in three of the Barents countries, was cancelled because the Russian side was unable to follow up its financial commitments in the project.
The announcement has caused bewilderment from the Russian organizers’ side. Press secretary in Murmansk Oblast Sports Committee Igor Pereu says that the committee had no intentions to go out with any announcement about cancellation of the race, MBnews reports:
- In spite of the financial crisis, the Murmansk regional government had done all preparations and logistics work according to the plan. According to Pereu, Kola Mining and Metallurgical Company had stepped in as sponsors for the two parts of the race that were going to be arranged in Murmansk. In spite of falling process on nickel, the company had allocated all the promised funding.
The event was going to be held in the beginning of April this spring, after the end of the World Cup. Tour de Barents Games Organization Committee continues its work with the goal to organize high level Tour de Barents Ski Competition in spring 2010, a press release from the committee reads.
