Labels

Officials Ask That The Cortina World Alpine Championships Be Postponed One Year


After having to cancel the World Cup Finals at Cortina d'Ampezzo this past March due to COVID-19, The Italian Winter Sports Federation has now made a formal request to postpone next year's World Alpine skiing championships until March of 2022.



The World Alpine Championships were scheduled to take place from February 7th to the 21st of 2021. This event is usually held every other winter during the odd years.

However, due to the future uncertainties of the COVID-19 outbreak and the damage already done to Italy due to the outbreak, asking for the event to be postponed was decided to be in the interest of all involved. Italian Olympic Committee president Giovanni Malagò even stated that “this is the best solution” in order to avoid the championships being canceled or shortened.

“It’s a decision in which we both lose but we realize this is the best — or maybe the only thing — to do,” Malagò said.

The postponement proposal has been brought to the International Ski Federation (FIS) and was discussed at the FIS Council spring meeting this past Monday, May 25th, a meeting that took place online due to COVID-19 restrictions. 

"In the spirit of the FIS family’s unity, synergy and active collaboration with one of its most active member National Ski Associations, Italy, and following consultation and the loyal support of the broadcast and commercial rights holder, Infront Sports & Media, the FIS Council addressed the request to postpone the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in Cortina (ITA) from 2021 until 2022." - FIS News Release

Though the proposal has been addressed by the FIS Council, no decision has been made as to whether or not the event will be postponed.

"Due to the multiple implications, the matter has to be carefully analyzed by all the stakeholders: the Local Organising Committee, the Italian Winter Sports Federation (FISI), FIS and Infront Sports & Media. Consequently, in agreement with FISI, the Council decided that the situation will be reviewed until 1st July 2020." - FIS News Release

This would not be the first world competitive event to be posted or canceled almost a year ahead of schedule due to COVID-19 uncertainties. Here in the U.S. the Burton U.S. Open, the longest-running snowboard competition in the world has been canceled ahead of its March 2021 schedule.

The 2021 Burton U.S. Open At Vail Canceled Due To COIVD-19

The longest-running and what could be the most anticipated snowboard competition each year, the Burton U.S. Open , will not take place during the next season. Burton Snowboards has made the choice to cancel the event due to the uncertainties concerning the future of the COVID-19 outbreak.


Photo Credit: Cortina 2021/FB
Tags

Comments

Post a Comment

Please check out the Ski Rex Media sponsors and partners. I love these folks and I think you would, too.