Are 2019 Inspires Potential Future Host Cities

The FIS Study Group programme is in place for each edition of the FIS World Championships as a key element and the highlight of the Transfer of Knowledge programme Each Organiser, Candidate and potential candidate has the opportunity to benefit from the real-life practical experiences of the current host.

Not only were the world’s top alpine ski racers and fans of the sport in Åre during the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships 2019. A large number of representatives of future event hosts and candidates for the Olympic Games and FIS Championships, as well as other sports also made their way to Åre. They have come from Beijing, Cortina, Vikersund, Kvitfjell and Oberstdorf to name a few, to experience the organisation at Åre 2019 and to take part in the official Study Group programme created to enable the sharing of knowledge and experiences.

“We were in Åre because we wished to have an overview of the event and understand the concept as well as the principal ideas behind the different organisational areas. The best way was to meet the people who work at the event. We were in Åre for a week and followed the races and events first hand, said Marzia Del Favero who is responsible for marketing and communication at the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships 2021 in Cortina, Italy.

The schedule for the study group delegates in Åre included lectures and workshops given by the responsible departments focusing on sharing knowledge and experiences that the local organising committee has gathered throughout the planning and organisation of the Championships. A summary of five years of lessons learned and know-how, or in short, the FIS World Championships in a nutshell. Everything from the preparations leading up to Åre 2019 has been meticulously documented and all materials were made available for sharing with the Study Group. The participants agreed that in order to gain an in-depth understanding and context it is necessary to experience the event in person.

“We were there from Wednesday to Sunday. For us this was about experiencing other disciplines than what we work with ourselves, which is great for ideas and inspiration”, said Ine Finsrud, Head of Marketing and Sales at the FIS Ski Jumping World Cup in Vikersund.

“It was exciting to see the Arena and how it is built. It is also interesting to see how "everything" is collected in one place at the Holiday Club. Other interesting areas include the logistical solution and of course the great focus on sustainability by Åre 2019”, concluded Tone K. Kristiansen, Secretary General at the Vikersund World Cup.

Being on-site also provided an excellent opportunity to connect with people working in the different departments within Åre 2019. As always, it’s not only the end-result that’s worth sharing but also the process and the rationale behind the different organisational and strategic choices.

“We want to learn more and to really understand how Åre 2019 is organised and the choices it made in the different areas”, said Marzia Del Favero, from Cortina 2021. “The main thing we take with us back to Italy is an understanding of Åre 2019’s strategy and overall concept as well as how the interaction between the event and town was structured”, she added.