Cortina World Alpine Ski Championships Staying Put

(ATR) The 2021 World Alpine Ski Championships remain as scheduled for February next year, as confirmed by the International Ski Federation (FIS) Council.

The FIS Council rejected a request by the Italian Winter Sports Federation (FISI) and Cortina organizers to postpone the showcase ski event until March 2022, the month after the Beijing Olympic Winter Games.

Members of the FIS Council met virtually and debated the proposal for less than two hours on Thursday afternoon before making the decision. FISI president Flavio Roda initially made the request to the FIS in May, on the grounds of the uncertainty and risk involved in hosting the event, Feb. 9-21, due to COVID-19. Financial concerns, lack of spectator guarantees and other logistical issues were cited. The FISI request was backed by both Cortina organizers and the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI).

Cortina 2021 leaders acknowledged and accepted the FIS decision.

"Our proposal to postpone the event was aimed at giving more time to the whole local, national and international alpine skiing system in order to successfully organize an unforgettable event," stated Alessandro Benetton, President of Fondazione Cortina 2021.

"But we will be ready in any case and we will show that these World Championships can change the history of a region despite the current difficulties."

FIS president Gian Franco Kasper said of the decision: "The last month of efforts to come to this solution demonstrates the strong collaborative spirit of the ski family and stakeholders involved to enable this important decision to be reached."

The Veneto region of Italy, including the 1956 Olympic town of Cortina, was one of the earliest and hardest hit by the coronavirus, which caused unprecedented financial implications for the local and national business community and the general population.

Despite the myriad of challenges, setbacks and lingering uncertainty, Benetton says Cortina will be ready for February of 2021.

"We have worked hard and non-stop over the past few years," said the Italian sports leader. "We never stopped, not even during the toughest months of the coronavirus emergency. The team is ready and we are completing all the infrastructure projects to be ready to host the competitions."

The Council discussions also centered upon the modalities and series of events planned in coordination with the Cortina championships during the two-week competition program. All will continue to be carefully evaluated with an emphasis on maximum safety and in compliance with current health regulations.

However, any limitations for carrying out the world championships, most significantly the allowance of paying spectators and VIP hospitality programs, remain undetermined.

In the lead-up to the FIS meeting and vote, numerous athletes expressed their concerns over a more than one year postponement suggesting the event would be buried behind the Beijing 2022 Olympics, with fatigue also being a worrisome factor.

"I would like to run in 2021 – I hope with all my heart and I don't want them to be moved after the Olympics," said Italian ski racer Marta Bassino. "Usually we are already focused on the big event, as well as for the World Cup. And this factor [a postponement] takes a lot of energy, having two championships, and the World Cup, one after the other is not the best. The focus of all would be on the Games, and I would feel sorry for Cortina."

"FISI has worked the last five years in close collaboration with all the stakeholders involved in the World Championships in Cortina," said Roda, the FISI president.

"It was clear after speaking to them in the last weeks, there was a strong desire to carry out the event in 2021 and to put all resources available to ensure that the World Championships are carried out at the highest level.

"Based on this feedback and the clear commitment of all parties, FISI expressed to the FIS Council the importance of these World Championships to be staged in 2021 as a positive signal for the entire country of Italy."

Cortina’s slopes will also be home to women’s alpine skiing events during the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympic Winter Games.

Written and reported by Brian Pinelli

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