2017 World Championship Registrations Bring Windfall To Ski Industry Development (08-May-11)

A total of nine applications, all from European resorts..

A total of nine applications, all from European resorts, have been received by the International Ski Federation (FIS) from resorts hoping to host one of the four World Champioinships due to be stage in 2016 (Ski Flying) and 2017(Alpine, Nordic and Combined Freestyle Ski and Snowboard).

"Just weeks after the successful 2011 editions, FIS is happy to witness the continuing interest in the organization of the FIS World Championships. This high number of applications by several nations and world’s premium resorts underlines the events' importance in the global sports calendar," commented FIS President Gian Franco Kasper.

Sierra Nevada in Spain was the only applicant to host the FIS 2017 Combined Freestyle Ski and Snowboard so looks likely to be chosen as host for that when the final decision is made during the 2012 Congress week in Gangwon Province (KOR) on 31st May 2012.

Prior to that, each Candidate, together with its National Ski Association, will prepare its detailed concept by 1st September 2011 based on a specific FIS Questionnaire, containing details such as plans for sports organization, accommodation, transportation, logistics, security, media, communications, marketing, ceremonies, the environment, spectator services and fan experience.

The FIS Inspection Group members will review the project in detail together with the Candidate during this phase and meet with them during the FIS Technical Committee Meetings in October 2011.

Three resorts have applied to host the FIS 2017 Alpine Skiing world Championships. Cortina (Italy), St Moritz (Switzerland) and ?re in Sweden have all hosted the event before, in ?re’s case as recently as 2007. Whichever wins the Championships will be returning to Europe after the 2015 event in Beaver Creek and Vail. The next Championships will be in Schladming, Austria in 2013 after the most recent event in Garmisch Partenkirchen, Germany earlier this year.

Each Candidate is subject to paying a non-refundable registration fee and providing training days. These are used to finance an extensive FIS Aid & Promotion program for developing ski nations. For the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships, the registration fee for each candidature is CHF 400'000 with 200 training days. For a second consecutive candidature, candidates are entitled to a 25 % reduction in the registration fee and, for the third and further consecutive candidacies, a 50 % reduction is granted.

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