Chile won’t freeze in Winter Olympics, says Neven
Olympic Committee president Neven Ilic is confident that Chile can continue to take strides forward in the Winter Games in Sochi next month.
Las Condes – Chile take a team of seven to Russia and won´t be expected to win medals, but the hope is that there will be displays to be proud of.
Speaking at the launch of the new North Face kit that the sportsmen and women will wear in Russia, Ilic said: “It´s a big challenge for the Chilean alpine world and we believe we´re going to have good performances in some areas.
“We are still fairly far away from the developed countries in winter sports and we have lots of things to do, but Chile is growing. We are working on the sportsmen and women and we hope that´s reflected in Sochi.”
If Chile could snaffle a surprise medal, then 18-year-old Dominique Ohaco could be the one to do it. The teenager finished last season ranked seventh in freestyle-slopestyle and has already demonstrated she has bags of talent.
In addition, she will carry the Chilean flag at the opening ceremony on February 7.
Ilic said: “I called her personally to let her know and she is very happy about it. Her ranking is good and we are proud of her.”
Meanwhile, Ilic admitted that it would be a dream if the Winter Olympics came to South America, and more specifically Chile, in the future.
He said: “We have the mountains and some of the most beautiful places in the world to develop winter sports.
“The International Olympic Committee searches for different locations and they want to open themselves up to other places.
“They are going to Brazil for the Olympic Games in 2016 and I hope the same can happen for the winter sports, too.”
One championship that Chile does have just around the corner is the South American Games in March.
There has been concern in some quarters that there hasn´t been enough publicity to let people know that it´s about to happen.
Ilic added: “Everything else is pretty much ready. What we´re lacking now is the certainty that the people come, they fill the stadiums.
“We hope that from the end of January everyone knows about it.”
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