MSG and MAG 2021, postponed until 2022

On Sunday afternoon, October 11, the IMSSC, in a video conference with the representatives of 15 countries, decided not to hold Masters Sprint Games (MSG2021) and no Masters Allround Games (MAG2021). Both championships are postponed until the 2021-2022 season.

Two options were discussed intensively in the video conference on 11 October. The^1st option was to postpone the decision to proceed with MSG2021 and MAG2021 until 31 December 2020. The other option was to immediately clarify whether MSG2021 and MAG2021 will continue.

The following arguments were central to the decision not to organize MSG2021 and MAG2021 in 2021:

1. The developments of the COVID-19 pandemic worldwide make very small chances that travel from all countries that are members of the IMSSC to Berlin and Kolomna respectively is possible.
2. Even though the COVID-19 pandemic is under global control, a number of older masters, in order not to be at health risk, will decide not to participate in MSG2021 and/or MAG2021.
3. Given the current developments worldwide of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is unlikely that a “normal” situation will be in the spring of 2021 in December 2020.
4. In spring 2021, a vaccine is not yet available on a large scale in which all masters, prior to MSG2021 and MAG2021, can be vaccinated.

In IMSSC’s opinion, this means that there is a very high chance that no “full-fledged” world championships can be organised in 2021. Therefore, the best option now, mid-October 2020, is to clarify the non-continuation of MSG2021 and MAG2021. At the IMSSC meeting on 11 October 2020 it was also decided that in 2020-2021 a number of international masters competitions to enable master speedskaters to set new IMSSC world records . The most actual IMSSC competition calendar is already published (as a PDF-document) on the IMSSC under “News”.

Tjeerd Smies  – President of the IMSSC
13 October 2020