Countdown To Cortina 2021 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships
The FIS Alpine World Ski Championships are just over three months away, as it is scheduled to take place in Cortina d’Ampezzo from 7 to 21 February next year.
The countdown marks the final step for the sporting event that will bring all the major international ski champions to the ‘Queen of the Dolomites’ and will also mark the much-awaited return of men’s competitions on the Tofane’s slopes after a thirty-year absence. It also represents the beginning of the 100 busiest and most challenging days of the whole preparation process, in the midst of the current Covid-19 emergency.
To celebrate this important moment – which sees Fondazione Cortina 2021 on the starting blocks for the final sprint – today at 5.00 pm the sports journalist Zoran Filicic and Jacopo Pozzi of The Owl Post will be hosting an exciting show, broadcasted in live streaming on FISI’s social channels. Together, they will relive the several stages of the journey that will lead to the most important event of this winter season: the number 100 will be the theme of the event, so simple and yet so perfect, filled with expectations for the upcoming World Championships.
Mr Filicic and Mr Pozzi will be joined by champions Sofia Goggia, Cortina 2021 Ambassador – who has an extra-special relationship with the ‘Queen of the Dolomites’ – and Dominik Paris, one of Italy’s most medalled skiers of all time: they will explain what these “-100 days” to the Championships means to them - the emotions, ambitions and expectations they have of the World Championships.
“The severe pandemic situation we have been facing since March has not halted the efforts of Fondazione Cortina 2021, FIS and the Italian government to cross the finish line and celebrate this important international event – said Valerio Toniolo, Works Commissioner for the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships Cortina 2021 – Thanks to amazing synergy involving the whole area, Cortina is now ready to host the World Championships, having invested in sports facilities focussing on relaunching the area, urban regeneration and environmental sustainability. There is no denying that the current emergency is forcing us to rethink our approach to large-scale events, through the use of digital support and new technologies to ensure compliance with social distancing rules, as protecting everyone’s health is the top priority and sport is instrumental to that”.
“We are proud of what we have accomplished up to now: the whole community is excited and looking forward to the World Championships – commented Gianpietro Ghedina, Mayor of Cortina d’Ampezzo – We are approaching this final stage with conflicting emotions of both worry and excitement but we have the organisational skills to make both our country and Cortina proud, whatever happens”.
“We are approaching these last few weeks in the run-up to the Championships with determination and confidence – stated Alessandro Benetton, President of Fondazione Cortina 2021 – We never thought we would be facing this final stage in the midst of a pandemic but we are pulling out all the stops to make sure the event is safe and to promote Cortina’s beauty and Italy’s great sporting tradition to all four corners of the world. We are constantly analysing every opportunity, getting ready to face every situation that could arise between now and next February. So, we are ready to deal with each and everything in the most efficient and promptest manner possible. These ‘-100 days’ to the World Championships show the strength, resilience and determination of the Cortina 2021 team and the great confidence the whole area places in this long-awaited event”.
