This week, the first official Coordination Group meeting was successfully staged in Cortina d’Ampezzo (ITA), site of the 2021 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships.

Representatives from the Cortina Local Organising Committee: Fondazione 2021 together with FIS, the Italian Winter Sports Federation (FISI), the Municipality of Cortina, the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI) and marketing and broadcast partner Infront Sports & Media were present for the milestone kick-off meeting and site visits.

Monday morning was dedicated to surveying the two finish areas and their layouts. The speed events will finish at a new location in the traditional Rumerlo area, where the current ladies’ World Cup races are staged. Meanwhile the slalom finish area will be newly constructed, while using portions of the former Olympic slalom Druscie course.

Additionally, the FIS Race Directors took the opportunity to survey the courses from top to bottom together with the sport officials from the Local Organising Committee.

"We made a survey on the slopes and we are very pleased. The design of the project area of ​​arrival Rumerlo is very attractive, with a structure that in the future may also be used for many events that can host exhibitions and concerts both in winter and in summer,” agreed Atle Skaardal and Markus Waldner, FIS Chief Race Directors.

After the outdoor inspections, the meetings took place for the next 24 hours during which the roadmap for the next five years was presented and discussed. The Cortina 2021 team, together with FISI, presented its vision for virtually every area of the World Championships, including volunteer recruitment, marketing, communications, ceremonies, transport and much more.

"Only three months since being elected as the 2021 host, many concrete steps have been made and no time has been wasted,” said FIS Secretary General Sarah Lewis. “We are very pleased with the commitment shown by the Cortina Foundation 2021 Local Organising Committee to date and the programme presented these days. We could also see the great work done by the Commissioner of Cortina, De Rogatis and team when we had the opportunity to meet with the national and local authorities, who are following and support the project very closely."

In the evening, many key representatives of the local communities and regional authorities joined the Coordination Group members for a working and social dinner at the finish area of Rumerlo, including Cortina’s own champion downhiller Kristian Ghedina.

The full two days closed with a press conference at the Hotel Cristallo, where the media was provided insights into the development of the World Championship Cortina 2021.

"I thank FIS and Infront: for two days of intense work,” said Paolo Nicoletti, Chief Executive Officer of Cortina 2021. "As a Foundation we are very pleased with the cooperation that has been established and the great support we have from FISI as well. The activities of these first months and projects submitted have had positive feedback and this consensus is very important for us. I join the FIS thanks to Commissioner De Rogatis for his work, including attention to the needs of Cortina World Cup."

Source: fis-ski.com