Thursday. 28.03.2024

An Alpine skiing coach with the Swedish team, Ola Masdal, has tested positive for coronavirus at the season-opening World Cup in Soelden, Austria, team manager Lars Melin told TV station SVT Sport on Friday.

The novel coronavirus was also detected in a second team in Soelden, race director Markus Waldner told Austrian press agency APA, without disclosing details.

Waldner said the Covid-19 cases in two teams would not affect the races, as the affected persons were tested before they had formally checked in in Soelden, and before they had entered the secluded "bubble" that participants enter to reduce contacts and to prevent infections.

Quarantine

Masdal is already in quarantine while an assistant coach has also been tested as he took the lift with Masdal and still waits for the result.

Melin said the situation doesn't affect the Swedish men's squad ahead of Sunday's giant slalom and they are "fully prepared for it."

The Alpine ski World Cup kicks off on Saturday with the women's giant slalom.

Sweden ski coach positive for coronavirus ahead of World Cup start