Cortina 2021 World Ski Championships to Go Ahead as Planned

2nd July 2020

Last modified on May 14th, 2021

The decision to go ahead as planned was made by the International Ski Federation.

It will  happen 9th to 21st February 2021.

The Italians thought there was a real threat that covid-19 and restrictions might impact on the Championships – both financially and how the organisers wanted to hold the event.

“Our proposal to postpone the event was aimed at giving more time to the whole local, national and international alpine skiing system in order to successfully organise an unforgettable event,”  said the President of Fondazione Cortina 2021, Alessandro Benetton.

“Our proposal to postpone the event was aimed at giving more time to the whole local, national and international alpine skiing system in order to successfully organise an unforgettable event.”

A move to 2022 would have meant the event would have been held shortly after the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics which would have created some complications.

It would have meant rearranging the World Cup schedule for part of the season.

“We are happy that we could find a solution that the Cortina 2021 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships will be staged in during the originally planned period in February 2021 to take their place as one of the highlights of the FIS winter season calendar,” said the FIS President, Gian-Franco Kasper.

“The last month of efforts to come to this solution demonstrates the strong collaborative spirit of the ski family and stakeholders involved to enable this important decision to be reached.”

The organisers have welcomed the decision and stress all preparations have been going ahead and much work has been finished.

The main infrastructure projects have been carried out in the Tofana ski area, where the competitions will take place.

• The works on the slopes Olympia, Vertigine, Druscié A have been completed
• A new slope has been created (Lino Lacedelli slope in Cinque Torri), the first Italian public slope dedicated to training sessions and competitions and equipped with all the safety features;
• Anew cable car has been built, Cortina-Col Druscié “Freccia nel cielo”, thanks to a public-private investment;
• Anew, modern avalanche control system has been implemented to protect the whole ski area in Pomedes – Ra Valles;
• The Rumerlo Finish Area has been redesigned and completed in order to make it suitable to host other events as well

Other infrastructure projects are underway.

The resort hopes to complete the new Son dei Prade – Bai de Dones cable car before winter.

This new cable car will reduce the traffic towards the Falzarego pass, thus making it possible to reach the Tofane ski area in a more sustainable way.

Cortina  will be hosting many of the on-snow events for the 2026 Winter Olympics that will also see events in Milan.

The 2021 Championships will be used as test run for the Winter Games.

FISI President Flavio Roda said the keeping the event in 2021 was the best outcome for all stakeholders.

“It was clear after speaking to them in the last weeks, there was a strong desire to carry out the event in 2021 and to put all resources available to ensure that the World Championships are carried out at the highest level,” said the President of the Italian Ski Federation, FISI, Flavio Roda.

“Based on this feedback and the clear commitment of all parties, FISI expressed to the FIS Council the importance of these World Championships to be staged in 2021 as a positive signal for the entire country of Italy.”

Cortina 2021 says it will keep an open dialogue with the International Ski Federation and the relevant institutions in order to monitor the situation in the coming months, both in Italy and abroad.