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Bad weather cancels men's downhill

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ARE, Sweden -- Bad weather hit the showcase event at the world skiing championships on Saturday when the men's downhill had to be postponed because of poor visibility on the upper part of the course.

The race, scheduled to start at 1130 GMT, was delayed several times until officials decided it could not take place.

The plan is now to stage both downhills on Sunday, with the men's race starting at 0900 GMT, followed at 1130 GMT by the women's event.

"I think this was the only right decision," said International Ski Federation (FIS) president Gian-Franco Kasper.

"The conditions at the top were not good. It would not have been a regular race. The forecast is excellent for tomorrow and we're looking forward to a super Sunday."

After several days of clear skies and Arctic temperatures, there were clouds and light snowfalls in this Swedish resort.

Meanwhile, a final training run for the women's downhill, scheduled for 0900 GMT, was cancelled earlier on Saturday.

The conditions were slightly improving by the time the men's downhill was postponed but fog at the top of the Olympia piste made it difficult for the racers to see further than the first three gates.

Daylight started declining, which meant the start time could not be delayed any further.

0fficials predict relatively clear skies with just a few clouds on Sunday morning. It should then be sunny during the day with temperatures around minus 10 Celsius.

Bad weather wiped out the first three days of competition at the February 3-18 championships. Four races, the two super-Gs and the two super-combined events, have since been staged.

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