Mission Impossible: Benetton Steers Cortina 2021 Through Pandemic

(ATR) Cortina 2021 president Alessandro Benetton cheered vociferously as Italian ski racer Marta Bassino crossed the line in the women’s parallel event, winning Italy’s first gold medal of the world championships.

Shortly thereafter, it was determined that Bassino would share victory with Austrian Katarina Liensberger, as the two racers ended in a dead heat, yet another small twist in what has been an unpredictable journey for the Italian world ski championships. It was Italy’s proudest moment thus far, and one relished by Benetton.

Benetton has led the Cortina d’Ampezzo 2021 Alpine Ski World Championships through a global pandemic, three Italian governments, the denial of a request to FIS to postpone the event and a rough start on Feb. 8, in which three days of events were wiped out due to unforgiving weather.

"Fortunately, what I can say, is that the Italian system responded in a very comprehensive manner; starting from the government, the local authorities, the sports world and the international federation as well," Benetton tells Around the Rings about the delivery of the ongoing championships.

"There has been a strong willingness by all the different stakeholders, in order to make this event actually happen."

Finally, the championships are on course – the abundant Italian Dolomites sunshine warming the atmosphere and illuminating the town’s breathtaking scenery.

Some 600 athletes from 70 countries are competing for 13 world titles at the two-week event heading toward its final weekend in the 1956 Winter Olympics resort.

"The athletes are happy about the slopes – let’s remember that we have a few slopes that are entirely new, so there were some issues in terms of course setting because there was no experience, taking into consideration the finals event was not held," Benetton said, referring to World Cup Finals, a test event canceled due to the coronavirus outbreak in March 2020.

"Everybody seems to be happy and it’s good visibility for the country," the Cortina 2021 leader adds.

Benetton, the founder and chairman of the 21 Invest firm and former CEO of the Benetton F1 Racing Team, is quick to point out that the championships are the first major worldwide sporting event to be carried out during the global pandemic.

"I cross my fingers, but if we make it, I think it can be a good example for other sports events," Benetton said.

Many never expected the aging 1956 Winter Olympic resort to host the flagship ski event in the first place. Cortina sport leaders overcame four failed bids before finally receiving the nod from the International Ski Federation on the fifth try in 2016.

Athletes are competing in the absence of fans, initially 120,000 were projected to attend the fortnight. The Cortina organizing committee – instructed by Italian health authorities, municipal and federal governments – has implemented a four-bubble system to ensure the health and safety of attendees. Some 6,000 officials, staff, athletes and teams, volunteers, broadcasters and media are on the grounds for the two-week championship.

"We were able to capitalize on the fact that these sports have already done some activities – this bubble system has been previously tried during World Cup events," Benetton noted, asked about cooperation with FIS.

Questioned about positive COVID cases in Cortina, Benetton asserts: "From what I know, absolutely not and if there has been, they’ve been completely not meaningful. I think we’ve done something like 16,000 samples for Covid. The system has been effective.

"I spoke to some officials and they said they’re happy with what they’ve seen in Cortina and we think it’s good preparation for the Olympic Games," Benetton says, referring to Milan-Cortina 2026.

Road to Milan-Cortina 2026

Despite the lack of the general public in Cortina, and a less complex effort to organize the sporting event as a result, Benetton says that there are still elements and principles that can be applied toward preparations for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games.

"I do hope they are going to follow our approach – our approach has been mostly technical," Benetton says, noting his own technical sporting background as a ski instructor and coach.

"We have concentrated, first of all, on the sporting event, on the technical aspect. I think if Italy, in general, is able to capitalize on the single experience – Anterselva for biathlon, Val di Fassa for cross-country skiing, Livigno for snowboard..." he says, noting 2026 venues.

"If we are able to create this common denominator of specific competences in every single area and discipline, then for sure, we’re going to be better off."

The championships wrap up with the men’s slalom on Sunday, Feb. 21. Benetton insists, considering everything that Cortina has already battled and overcome, that it is imperative for his team to push full gas through the finish line.

"Safety first, let’s make sure we don’t lose our concentration," Benetton says. "Safety of the athletes, let’s never forget that.

"We have been managing all different weather – we had the snow, then hyper cold temperatures of minus 20, and now we’re going to have warm weather and transformation of the snow conditions."

Considering Cortina’s decades of experience organizing world class ski races, Benetton, not surprisingly, is confident that the mild weather resulting in softening snow conditions for racers, will be managed accordingly.

"There is a great tradition in Cortina in terms of setting courses and in terms of preparing the slopes," Benetton reminds.

Homepage photo: ATR

Written and reported by Brian Pinelli in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy

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