The classic resort of Cortina d’Ampezzo in the Italian Dolomites looks set to host the 2021 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships after no other resort bid to host the prestigious event.
Cortina d’Ampezzo had bid to host the Championships for the past four Championships and reacted angrily with a decision last summer that the 2019 event should return top Are in Sweden, which had last hosted them in 2007.
The most recent FIS Alpine World Ski Championships were stager in Vail Beaver Creek, Colorado, earlier this year and the next will be in St Moritz, Switzerland in 2017.
Cortina d’Ampezzo has staged the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships twice before, including the second ever Championships in 1932, before downhill skiing was introduced to the Winter Olympics, but has not staged them since 1956. The last Italian hosts were Bormio in 2005.
Although Cortina d’Ampezzo is the only candidate for 2021, it is not yet automatically named as the host for the Chamionships. Instead a first briefing will take place during the FIS Conference in Varna (BUL) in early June and Cortina’s detailed concept for the Championships is due by 1st September 2015 based on a specific FIS Questionnaire, containing details such as plans for sports organisation, logistics, accommodation, transportation, logistics, security, media, communications, marketing, ceremonies, the environment, spectator services and fan experience.
The FIS Inspection Group members led by Sarah Lewis FIS Secretary General, will review the project in detail together with the Candidate during this phase from 1st May until 30th September 2015. Thereafter a meeting with each of the Candidates will take place during the FIS Technical Committee Meetings in early October after which each Candidate will finalise its concept for the FIS World Championships.
A final decision will be made by the FIS Council at the FIS World Championships at the 50th International Ski Congress on 9th June 2016 in Cancun, Mexico after final presentations.
“Just weeks after the successful FIS World Championships in 2015, FIS is pleased at the interest for the organisation of these important events. Experienced Organisers including the world’s premium resorts’ desire to host FIS World Championships underlines their importance in the global sports calendar,” commented FIS President Gian Franco Kasper.