Sandau made the assertion after it emerged that the Foothills Nordic Ski Club and other local clubs are struggling to find a venue for their winter programme.

It followed the announcement of WinSport Canada to install a tube park through the cross-country ski trails at Canada Olympic Park.

The tube park is a section of a ski hill which allows people to slide down snow on inflatable tubes, but it has been claimed it will reduce the amount of track from 2.2 kilometres to just one.

"I was fortunate enough to have accessible skiing within the city," said Sandau.

"Skiing and racing my entire life has shaped who I am, the people I've met, and my desire to live a healthy lifestyle.

"Now with the uncertainty of reliable, safe and consistent ski facilities within Calgary, we will lose out on grassroots programmes that would create the next generation of Nordic enthusiasts."

Biathlon Canada have stated that without suitable training facilities within the city, the training and competition goals of young biathlon and cross-country athletes will be hindered as a direct consequence.

They claim that hours are wasted, due to athlete having to travel outside of the city to complete regular training sessions.

Foothills Nordic Ski Club have launched a campaign to ensure the public will have access to cross country facilities by launching a crowdfunding campaign.

The campaign will help to fund hydrant-based snow-making, as well as techniques which can be used to maximise the longevity of natural snow.

The crowdfunding campaign can be accessed here.