World Championship Organizers' Issue: Athletes Staying in a 'Contagious Hotel'

The article discusses the problems faced by the organizers of the World Ski Jumping Championships in Trondheim. According to Swedish and Norwegian media, the official hotel for the event – Scandic Lerkendal, one of Norway’s largest hotels with 21 floors and 75 meters in height – poses a significant risk for mass infections of flu due to the inevitable close contacts among its guests.

During the test championships held from December 15-17, 2023, nearly all participants and officials stayed in the hotel, which has been labeled a "contagion bomb." This has allegedly resulted in many top Nordic athletes withdrawing from the upcoming Tour de Ski (scheduled from December 30 to January 7) due to cases of flu and Covid-19.

In response to the overcrowded conditions in the vast restaurant during breakfast and lunch, the Swedish national team decided to move out immediately, opting instead for a boarding school near the city, while Norway secured two entire floors with dedicated security and a private canteen. Commentators have stressed that for such high-level events, athletes should be housed in smaller hotels to minimize contact. The article criticizes the organizers for not acting after the first warning earlier in 2023.

Source: Polska Agencja Prasowa