Cortina 2021 at the Starting Gate

(ATR) Cortina 2021 president Alessandro Benetton points out that Italy’s upcoming Alpine World Ski Championships has persevered through uncertain times having withstood three different Italian governments and a pandemic since winning its bid in June 2016.

Cortina d’Ampezzo – which won the 2021 Alpine World Ski Championships on its fifth attempt at the 2016 FIS Congress in Mexico – celebrated 10 days to go until the two-week championship opens on Feb. 7.

"We are creating a noble effect during this difficult moment of the pandemic and passing through three different governments in Italy, but with the help of these governments and the sport minister (Vincenzo) Spadafora, we will see the results at the end, but we are ready for these worlds," Benetton said.

"Our teamwork – the territory and the political organizations working together are increasing the noble effect towards the world championship and Milan-Cortina 2026.

"Thanks to the skills of the team it will be a successful sports event that once again will demonstrate the important role a major international event can play in re-launching a territory," Benetton said. "We are ready for the final effort."

The first major international winter sports event of the pandemic era is expected to attract some 600 athletes from 70 countries over 14 days of competition. While spectators will not be permitted, there will be approximately 3,500 people involved in the event including officials, staff, federation members and volunteers.

Attending a livestream news conference from the Cortina finish area on Thursday were Benetton, Cortina mayor Gianpietro Ghedina and race director Alberto Ghezze. Italian politicians Valerio Toniolo and Giuseppe Pierro joined virtually as did Italian Winter Sports Federation (FISI) president Flavio Roda.

Cortina 2021 government commissioner Toniolo highlighted the financial support behind the championship, which will take a hit in revenue due to the absence of ticket sales from 120,000 spectators that were expected.

"From 2017 to today, the government has guaranteed 40 million Euros and together with private contributions, we have a total investment of 95 million," Toniolo said.

"We guaranteed the necessary works for the world championships and we wanted to accompany Cortina to leave an important legacy. It’s great teamwork, an example of an Italy that succeeds."

Women ski racers will descend the venerable Olympia Della Tofane piste, which Austrian legend Toni Sailer won downhill gold on at the 1956 Winter Olympics, while the men will be tested by the new "Vertigine" downhill track, a course that was expected to be unveiled at the FIS World Cup Finals in March 2020, an event cancelled by the pandemic.

Athletes will compete in 12 individual races and a mixed gender team event for a total of 39 medals, equally divided between men and women.

Italian 2018 Olympic downhill champion Sofia Goggia and two-time Olympic medalist Christof Innerhofer contributed video messages to the press event. Goggia spoke of the pure beauty of Cortina as witnessed from the historic women’s race course.

"Cortina and the chairlift that we take for Tofane and the morning course inspection, when dawn breaks and you see the first rays illuminated by orange – this image I carry in my heart, it is pure poetry," Goggia said.

"It is a pity that the world championship is behind closed doors, but it is already a great success just to compete here."

Cortina sport and race director Alberto Ghezze touched upon the ongoing preparations on the mountain.

"We will leave a great legacy for the tracks with re-styling and improvements," Ghezze said. "We have 20 snowcats, 25 quads and hundreds of shovels. Our task is to best prepare the tracks."

Additional numbers behind the scenes include 450 course workers, 550 accredited media and 140 television cameras, 90 of which can operate simultaneously. The RAI-produced international broadcast is expected to transmit images to more than 500 million viewers worldwide.

The 10 day to go press event also included an inspirational video showcasing the numerous locals, staff and other personnel preparing the championship and a narrator proclaiming: "We are ready for the future, we are ready for the climbs, we are ready for the downhills, we are ready – are you?"

Cortina 2021 runs from Feb. 7–21.

Written and reported by Brian Pinelli in Cortina d'Ampezzo

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