BSSF goes into administration
The BBC has just reported that the British Ski and Snowsport Federation is to go into administration after struggling to meet its financial obligations, leaving Olympic athletes without a governing body before the biggest event of their lives.

GB athletes will still take part at Winter Olympics
British skiers and snowboarders from the squad announced only four days ago will be able to take part but face uncertain futures after the Games in Vancouver.

The British Olympic Association (BOA) had previously said it had a contingency plan should BSSF's problems get worse.   BOA chief executive Andy Hunt said it would do "everything possible to ensure that the athletes are able to compete in the Vancouver Games as members of Team GB".

The International Olympic Committee has rules which allow for athletes to compete in the Games even if a sport does not have a national federation. 

Athletes have 'to buy their own lift passes'
Mark Tilston, the coach of top British skier Chemmy Alcott, told BBC Sport that coaches and skiers have had to pay for hotels and lift passes at races because of Snowsport GB's money problems, and it was having a big impact on their Olympic preparations.

"Some of these guys have dedicated more than a decade or more to the sport and they find themselves not able to prepare properly for the Olympics. It's a terrible situation," he said.

Refinancing failed
Last August, a refinancing package was agreed to service BSSF's £600,000 debt, but since then two funding streams have been deferred and a £30,000 overdraft facility has been withdrawn by the Royal Bank of Scotland.

SnowsportGB, an Edinburgh-based not-for-profit organisation, is responsible for the British teams in ski racing and snowboarding and receives funding for the athletes from UK Sport and the Scottish Institute for Sport as well as private sponsors.   It then channels the money into the skiers' training programmes.

Future for British snowsports
No doubt a new governing body will be formed from the flames of this self-destruction.  The key question is whether our sport can find the leadership that can take snowsports in the right direction, or if we are simply destined to repeat the mistakes of the past.

[Source: BBC Sport]