The national team players, led by sports representative Johan Andre Forfang, have stated that they want a new management team for the upcoming World Cup season. Central's comments were about dissatisfaction with national team director Alexander Stockl.
Now the federation's management is asking the media not to contact the athletes regarding the ongoing issue.
– We see that the overall burden is large on many participants, especially on Johan Forfang, the official spokesman for the athletes. In recent days, many have been under strong pressure from the media to make a statement or provide information on this matter. Johan has asked us to stress that the athletes want to resolve this matter internally, and asks that this be respected, says Stein Corsen, Chairman of the Jumping Committee.
“The significant pressure from the media, as well as pressure in social media, has put great pressure on the athletes, employees and union representatives, and has also become a great burden on Johan Forfang,” said Monday's press release.
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– Johan and the other athletes want to do their best in future competitions. He asks, and we support him, that everyone with sports interests now contribute to us being able to deal with this internally rather than through the media,” says General Secretary Arne Baumann.
Stöckle stamped
The association also recommends that the general public consider using words related to the issue on social media.
“In the interests of show jumping and all participants, we ask that the status of athletes be respected. This also applies to discussions on social media, and we encourage participants to consider how all involved in the case may be vulnerable to the inappropriate use of harsh words and epithets.
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The issue surrounding Stockl and the national team has flared up in recent weeks. On Friday, the national team manager himself took part in the Dagsnytt18 broadcast on NRK. There he looked very affected.
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– I'm basically very excited, but the challenge for me personally is that this goes beyond my health. “I'm pretty far downstairs, so I guess I should take care of myself and my family now, to make sure I stay alive,” Stöckel said quietly.
He was also asked if he felt alone in the situation that arose.
-I feel completely alone. “At least I have support from the coaching staff and the coaching staff, but other than that I feel very lonely,” the national team manager said.
Revised statement
After that, actor-athlete Forfang more than hinted in an interview with NRK that Stöckl was on a “sympathy tour” in the media. He has since expressed regret for that statement.
In a letter on Monday, the Skating Federation stressed its adherence to its previous statement in this regard. It reads like this:
“In their letter, the athletes expressed their dissatisfaction that has persisted over time, and arose long before the current Jumping Committee was elected. We must respect that the athletes have their reasons as to why they feel they have to send this directly to the Jumping Committee. The athletes are the most important to us and must To be taken seriously. This is not a power struggle, but a necessary process of change. The athletes have asked that we deal with this internally rather than through the media, and we have great respect for that and therefore do not wish to comment further.
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