BSS Update on Alpine Participation in European Youth Olympic Winter Festival

On 27^th June 2014, BSS issued its first draft of selection criteria relating the 2015 European Youth Olympic Winter Festival which will be held in Liechtenstein and the Vorarlberg from January 25th to January 30th, 2015. Great Britain has been awarded eight quota places for Alpine athletes at these games, four each for male and female athletes.

Today BSS provides an update in the following areas:

-          The submission of a long list to the BOA

-          Recap of the selection criteria

-          Timeline of selection process and possible B race

-          Reminder of eligibility criteria

Long List

BSS submitted a long list of potential athletes to the BOA at the end of August. This included a total of just over 30 athletes. It may be that a number of these athletes have only a modest chance of qualification. But in accordance with long list protocol we think it is appropriate to include all athletes who might have an outside chance of qualification.

These athletes have been written to by BSS with an explanation of the process.

Recap of the selection criteria

The selection criteria were outlined in detail in the note released in June and the link to that is /media/144065/eyof%20criteria%20draft%20-%20june%2025.pdf. There have been no alterations to those criteria. As of the FIS list 2 issued in August, GBR has five men and two women that are inside the criteria.

Timeline of Selection Process and Possible B races

The BSS selection criteria referred to above also contained a draft timeline which was put together before we had sight of the BOA timelines. BSS has now been informed of the final date by which the BSS board has to put forward its final nominations for selection by the BOA. This date is December 19^th. Between the races and this submission BSS will need time to do the following: collate any coaches’ reports, host a selection meeting, be available to process any appeals, and then get Board clearance. With this in mind we think the selection meeting will need to take place on or before December 12^th. It will not be able to take account of races after that date and while selectors will do whatever they can, they may or may not be able to take account of races immediately before that date.

All of these timings are a few days earlier than envisaged in the original selection document. With a compressed timeframe in place BSS is discussing with a number of parties what, if any, modifications may be appropriate to the selection processes originally envisaged as part of the B criteria. BSS will clarify any changes to these processes by early October.

Reminder of Eligibility Criteria

BSS also wanted to remind athletes of the basic eligibility criteria included in the initial draft document from June 27^th.

-          Athletes must hold a British passport

-          Athletes must be registered with FIS as British

-          Athletes must meet the BOA eligibility criteria

Athletes will not be eligible for nomination if:

-          They are currently serving a suspension for a doping or other disciplinary offence

-          The BSS medical officer considers after an examination, or report from the official medical support team, that an athlete is not physically fit to compete

Athletes are likely to be required to sign a BOA team agreement.