Cortina Showcases Progress In FIS Coordination Group Meetings

The fourth Coordination Group Meeting for the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships 2021 was held in Cortina d’Ampezzo (ITA) yesterday and concluded today. 

The delegation was welcomed by recently appointed Valerio Giacobbi, CEO of the Local Organising Committee and included technical and administrative staff from FIS led by Secretary General Sarah Lewis, representatives from the Italian Ski Association, FISI, led by Loretta Piroia, Secretary General and Alpine Director Massimo Rinaldi and representatives of commercial and broadcast rights holders, Infront and its host broadcaster RAI. The Mayor of Cortina, Gianpietro Ghedina as well as key representatives from the Community and Authorities including the Ski Lift Companies, State Police and Regional Business Industry also participated and contributed in the different sessions.

The first part of the Coordination Group visit focused on the key technical aspects at the competition venue which involves re-modelling of the courses, particularly the new common finish area for both speed courses. Elena Gaja, Chair of the FIS Alpine Courses Sub-Committee joined the inspection with the official homologation scheduled for later this year in order to be ready to host the Italian Championships in March 2019.

Meanwhile the slalom hill using the Druscie course as was the case for the 1956 Olympic slalom will be widened whilst the finish area is being renovated 60 years on. Additionally, the planning of the operational infrastructure in the competition venue is well underway and alongside, the road leading up to the competition venue is being widened and rerouted to accommodate the new finish area and facilities.

All the new progress meant there was much to see and discuss during the outdoor inspection. Down in the town, the locations for the broadcast, media and volunteers centre at the Ice Centre and evening medal ceremonies in the centre of Cortina have been identified.

After the site vists, the plenary meeting included a full agenda primarily dealing with organisational aspects of  the Cortina 2021 FIS World Championships which were presented by the respective responsible persons in the Organising Committee.

Valerio Giacobbi, CEO of the Local Organising Committee stated: “We very much appreciated the constructive discussions and input from FIS, FISI and Infront throughout these two days. The level of discussion in important details with expert advice is highly appreciated and we have a strong feeling of strong support from all stakeholders for Cortina 2021”.

FIS Secretary General Sarah Lewis added: "The FIS Coordination Group is extremely impressed with the progress in Cortina both during the venue and course inspections and the operational and plenary meetings. The fully integrated participation by the Cortina Community and Authorities throughout our visit and the strong spirit within the group shows the commitment of the town and indeed the region to present a memorable FIS Alpine World Ski Championships 2021 in Cortina and Italy to the world.”