BALKAN CUP

Member Nations

ALB, BIH, BUL, CRO, MKD, MNE, GRE, MDA, ROU, SRB, TUR

Basic Information

The history of FIS Balkan Cup goes back to 1970s. It was organized as “Balkan Ski Championships” at that time. It was organized for the regional countries of Bulgaria, Greece, Romania, Turkey and countries of former Yugoslavia.

After 1990,the organization has lost it’s importance and identity. Some countries  started to organize independent  “Balkan Open Cup” competitions.

During the FIS Congress 2002 in Portoroz (SLO)  negotiations between Turkish Ski Association the regional  countries and FIS CCC. It was proposed to organize “Balkan Cup” competitions within the regional countries under the FIS umbrella. The idea was strongly supported by the regional countries.

The first Balkan Ski Meeting  took place during the FIS Nordic WSC 2003 in Val di Fiemme (ITA)  with the support of FIS CC Race Director  Bengt Erik Bentsson and the participation of FIS CCC Chairman Peter Petricek.

FIS decided to establish CC COC series during the Congress 2004 in Miami and Balkan Cup (BC) was one of those nine COC.

Ballkan Cup is not only important regional competition series for the member countries. It also represents means close cooperation and development of Cross-Country skiing in the region. The representatives of the member countries meet annually under the coordination of BC Coordinator.

After first couple of years of BC, there has been increase in the level of Cross-Country skiing in the Balkan area.  Number of youth athletes and number of the international CC competitions have grown in the region as well as number of the FIS homologated CC courses.

The level of organization and sport level of the Balkan Cup events have increased year by year. Balkan Cup countries have experienced some individual successes in last couple of years. Especially at junior and U23 levels. FIS points of some athletes have significantly dropped and podiums at FIS events came afterwards.

Balkan Cup countries have been searching for the appropriate way to increase the number of young athletes and give them opportunity to compete on international level. In the future Balkan Cup competition program will feature new youth category.

After several years of experience Balkan Cup countries decided to re-launch the “Balkan Ski Championships” for all the FIS disciplines. First Balkan Ski Championships will be held in Romania this winter season with CC,AL,SB and SJ competitions.