Ski chief worried by 'winter' World Cup

International Ski Federation (FIS) chief Gian Franco Kasper insisted Tuesday that he had growing concerns about switching the 2022 World Cup to a date which could see it overshadow the Winter Olympics that year. Speculation is continuing that FIFA, football's world governing body, will eventually reschedule the tournament due to high summer temperatures in Qatar. "We have big fears, if the football World Cup takes place in January, or close to the Winter Games. It would be really bad for us," Kasper told German agency SID, an AFP subsidiary. "It would also be really bad for sport, as much for winter sports as football to have two major events more or less at the same time." If FIFA did organise a World Cup in the winter Kasper said the FIS would favour it taking place in November and December. "That would effect us less," he said, adding that he hoped "FIFA would take some account" of their fears. FIFA are currently examining the potential impact a change in the traditional calendar date for the World Cup would have. A decision has been pushed back until after the 2014 World Cup. Blatter has suggested a November kickoff for the 2022 tournament, with UEFA President Michel Platini preferring January, a month before the 2022 Winter Olympics. Source: AFP