Cortina Forced to Amend 2021 Alpine Skiing World Championship Plans

(ATR) Flavio Roda, president of FISI, theItalian Winter Sports Federation and Cortina 2021 officials unveiled details of its candidature amid backlash from citizens of the 1956 Winter Olympic host city.

Cortina d’Ampezzo, the lone candidate for the 2021 Alpine Ski World Championship, is expected to be confirmed as host at the 50th International Ski Federation (FIS) Congress in Cancun, Mexico on June 5-11.

An ethical code was signed last week in Cornegliano Veneto, near Venice, while additional details of the bid dossier were made public. Italian internet entrepreneur Riccardo Donadon was named president of the Cortina 2021 foundation.

Roda discussed Cortina’s plans with Around the Rings at a recent men’s World Cup downhill race in Santa Caterina Valfurva, Italy.

"There has been a little confusion in the past, but there will be a new foundation signed, a new structure coming into Cortina and new information given to the people," Roda said, just prior to departing for the meeting in Cornegliano Veneto.

Citizens of Cortina had sent letters to Roda and the Italian newspaper La Stampa calling for the establishment of the ethical code and more transparency regarding the bid.

Ski gondolas, railways, roads and infrastructure are planned to be upgraded in Cortina and the surrounding region in the Dolomite Mountains of northern Italy.

"It is an important project for the Italian government and the Veneto region," said Roda, the former Italian Ski Team director who has led FISI since 2012. "For Cortina, it will be also be important to renew the old structure starting with the hotels, in the town and also for the slopes."

Roda divulged that the championships will be financed through both government support and revenue generated by television rights and sponsors. The initial investment for the event is 50 million Euros, with 30 million coming from TV rights.

Additional monies will be necessary for regional and local infrastructure as well as ski resort development.

"There is no figure because the infrastructure is a matter of government and the region and for the slopes, lifts and tracks, like hotels is private," Roda said of the additional expenditures.

The Col Druscie cable car – which connects the town of Cortina with the 1956 Olympic slalom run and future 2021 course – is among key renovation projects.

Cortina prepares to host the biennial FIS Alpine Ski World Championships following four successive losing bids between 2013 and 2019.

The glamorous Italian ski resort last hosted the Alpine championships in 1932 and 1941, plus the 1956 Winter Olympics, where alpine events doubled as world title races.

In three weeks, Cortina will celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the 1956 Games. A gala dinner is scheduled on Jan. 25 and the Italian National Olympic Committee Executive Board will meet on Jan. 26--exactly 60 years since the 1956 Winter Olympics opening ceremony.

Guido Caroli, the final torchbearer from 1956, and Giuliana Minuzzo, who took the Athletes Oath, is invited to Cortina for the anniversary.

Italian sport leaders are hoping that the buzz generated from Cortina’s anniversary could spark further interest and attention for the Rome 2024 bid.

Italian ski racer Christof Innerhofer, 31, a double Olympic medalist at Sochi 2014, expressed his enthusiasm for the future Cortina world championships.

"It’s good for us skiers and I think over the next years they will speak more about skiing in Italy," Innerhofer said. "There will be construction of new things at the ski resort and it’s only one hour from my home so I hope I will be there."

Roda stressed the magnitude of the FIS signature event returning to the venerable Italian ski town.

"It’s very important not only for Cortina, but the whole country of Italy," Roda said.

"We consider Cortina as part of the entire state of Italy and the world championships will be important for sport in the country."

Written by Brian Pinelli

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