Ski Jumping took centre stage at the 4th Coordination Group for the Seefeld 2019 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships.
On 24th and 25th October, Members of the Austrian Ski Federation and its Seefeld 2019 Local Organising Committee, FIS and Infront Sports & Media met in Innsbruck, site of the Ski Jumping competitions for the 2019 World Championships and home to the annual Four Hills Tournament stop.
The meeting was held directly on the Bergisel Ski Jumping hill where the major updates were presented by the Seefeld 2019 team. With just less than a year and half until the world’s top Nordic athletes descend on Seefeld and Innsbruck, the planning is right on schedule.
The majority of the upgrades and improvements within the sport and venue infrastructures are now complete in both Innsbruck and Seefeld with everything expected to be ready for a full operational test this winter with the first FIS Cross-Country World Cup competitions since 1999 and the Nordic Combined Triple, which will return to Seefeld for its fifth edition.
The experience of the Organisers with top-level events is clear in the overall planning elements and function areas, as well with volunteer recruitment in good shape and media infrastructure ready to provide state-of-the-art services for the broadcast, digital and print media in Seefeld.
Werner Friesser, Mayor of Seefeld, who is also specifically responsible for sport in the Local Organising Committee, said of the updates from the meetings: “There is a feeling within the community and all of us working daily on the World Championships that they are truly just around the corner. As soon as the Olympics conclude, we will be on centre stage, and we are excited to provide the Nordic World with an unforgettable event.”
The Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined competitions on the large hill will take place on the famous Bergisel in Innsbruck and many improvements have been completed at the venue.
“It was good for the Coordination Group to have one of its meetings in Innsbruck so the members could visit first-hand the impressive facilities and meet the professional team that will be on hand for our Ski Jumping competitions during the 2019 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships,” said FIS Secretary General Sarah Lewis. “The short travel between Seefeld is straightforward by rail or road and the Organisers have put considerable effort into ensuring that the two venues will be easily accessible for everyone.”
Klaus Leister, Austrian Ski Federation Secretary General and Seelfeld 2019 Organising Committee CEO added: “In addition to the venue and facility improvements, our planning and implementation are well on schedule. We appreciate the constructive cooperation with our colleagues at FIS and Infront in sharing experiences from previous Nordic Championships, as well as our many major events in Austria”.
The FIS Nordic World Ski Championships will take place from 20th February–3rd March 2019, with the final competition planned traditionally as the men’s 50km Cross-Country race.
Source: fis-ski.com
