FIS president Gian-Franco Kasper also said he had expected higher crowds, particularly in the cross-country skiing races on the Shirahatayama course. Several newspapers slated the low turnout in headlines: Norwegian Dagbladet called it a scandal, while Swedish Aftonbladet described it as a fiasco.
FIS president Gian-Franco Kasper anticipated a larger crowd, particularly for the cross-country skiing races on the Shirahatayama course, which was met with criticism from newspapers who labeled it a scandal or a fiasco.