Informed that Norway Lost World Championship Qualification – Complete U-turn After Closed Meeting

The article describes the turmoil within the Norwegian Nordic combined team during the 2025 World Championships in Trondheim. Initially, the team was thrown into chaos when FIS announced a new rule interpretation that revoked Jarl Magnus Riiber’s free qualification – a privilege normally granted to the reigning world champion in an individual event, here adapted to the newly formatted compact event. The announcement put Norway in a position where it risked having to drop one of its five planned starters for the competition.

Team officials, including the combined team sports director Ivar Stuan, expressed outrage and confusion at the timing and handling of the decision. Renndirektør (race director) Lasse Ottesen explained that after hours of review and discussions involving legal advisors, FIS’s communication of the decision was in fact based on a misunderstanding. According to FIS communication chief Bruno Sassi, the changes in the combined event format were not significant enough to merit the removal of the qualification, and thus Riiber is still recognized as the reigning champion for the compact event.

Criticism of FIS was vocal among Norwegian officials and athletes, with commentators like Jan Petter Saltvedt describing the handling as “extremely clumsy” and disrespectful to those involved. The fallout could potentially affect several other events on the championship program. The incident has sent ripples through international Nordic combined competition and will likely be a subject of future discussion within the sport’s governing bodies.

Overall, the article illustrates how misinterpretation and last-minute changes in rule communication can disrupt even well-prepared national teams at the highest levels of international competition.