The Austrian Climbing Association will not send a team to the European Climbing Championships in Moscow (November 20-29, 2020). This decision was made in a board meeting.
The European Championship, at which a quota place for the Olympic Games in Tokyo will be awarded, was postponed from March to June, then to October and finally to the end of November due to the Covid 19 pandemic. Most recently, the world association IFSC confirmed that the continental title fights will definitely take place in Moscow (RUS) from November 20th to 29th.
This decision was not an easy one for us, but the health of everyone involved clearly comes first. We consulted with the coaches and also obtained the opinions of the athletes. In our view, posting to Moscow due to travel warnings and restrictions is not responsible.
KVÖ sports director Heiko Wilhelm
The highest level travel warning for Russia
According to the Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs, a travel warning of the highest level 6 applies to Russia.
At the European Championships in Moscow there is still a quota place for women and men for the Olympic Games in Tokyo. With the decision not to send KVÖ athletes to the European Championships, it is also clear that in Tokyo with Jessica Pilz (ÖAV Haag / NÖ) and Jakob Schubert (ÖAV Innsbruck / TIR) two red-white-red aces will be killed at the Olympic premiere the medals will climb. The world champions of Innsbruck 2018 had secured their starting places for the Olympic combined competition at the 2019 World Cup in Hachioji, Japan.
As an athlete, two hearts beat in my chest. Of course I would have liked to climb, especially since we had so few competitions this season. Of course I miss that. But there is a lot at stake, namely health - and in the current situation it is certainly the right decision.
Jakob Schubert on the KVÖ waiver
Early end of the 2020 season
The 2020 season, which was mixed up by the corona virus, ends for Austria's national climbing team without a major international event.
It was definitely not an easy year, but with the Austria Climbing Summer Series and the Austrian State Championships we were able to provide exciting competitions at a high level. That makes me confident about the coming year.
Heiko Wilhelm
2021 dedicated to the Summer Olympics
In 2021, in addition to the Olympic Games in Tokyo (July 23 to August 8), the home World Cup in Innsbruck (June 24 to 27) and the IFSC World Climbing World Cup in Moscow (September 15 to 22) will be on the agenda Program. A total of 18 World Cup competitions are planned at 12 venues between mid-April and the end of October.
+ + +
Images Moritz lovers