Liberec - Kateřina Neumannová, famous Czech cross country skier, is convinced that the upcoming FIS Nordic World Ski Championship in Liberec, north Bohemia, next year is not under threat and will certainly take place.
Neumannová is the president of the organizing committee responsible for putting the event together.
No bad mood
Responding to an open letter sent to her by the members of Liberec municipal authority, Neumannová wrote that her team is not affected either by bad personal relations, nor by a "bad mood".
On the contrary, the atmosphere has improved after several managers left the committee, Neumannová claims.
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Chief of accreditations Jan Dvořáček, coordinator of volunteers Vanda Šulcová and executive director Renata Abtová have recently left their posts.
No destructive intentions
Neumannová says these members were "creating a negative atmosphere in the team in the long run, which was rather disturbing for the rest of the team members."
Her former colleagues resolutely denied this claim. "I feel offended. I don't agree with [the accusations raised by Neumannová]. I think I am a professional and I left the job as a professional," Renata Abtová said, adding that there was no intention to create obstacles.
Vanda Šulcová reacted in a similar way, saying "I think when somebody tells the truth it doesn't mean she is spreading a negative mood. I don´t buy her accusations."
Allegation of inactiveness
Šulcová also cautioned last week that there have been problems with the teams' management. She said that Neumannová has been consumed by other activities and is unaware of what is happening in the team. Therefore the problems remaine unsolved.
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Neumannová also objected to the Liberec municipality´s open letter of complain. It didn't help in improving the working atmosphere in the team, she added. "It would help if the municipality solved unclear issues directly with us, not through the media," said Neumannová.
But the Liberec region representatives claim that it was legitimate to write an open letter. "Given the circumstances, it was the only option," said Kamil Jan Svoboda who doesn't see Neumannová's explanation as sufficient.
"I would like to meet with her and ask her additional questions," added Svoboda. Missing information about the team´s personnel hierarchy is one of the objections raised in the open letter. "We need to know who is responsible for what, in case something goes wrong," said Svoboda.
After executive director Renata Abtová left her job, Neumannová decided not to renew the post.
There are 203 days left before the championship begins.
