Planning is already underway for the FIS Alpine Skiing World Championships 2023 and the biggest question is: Austria or France? Both Saalbach and Courchevel-Méribel have submitted bids to host the bi-annual event, which is considered one of the most important competitions in alpine skiing. It’s a tough choice seeing as these are two of the biggest names in the Alps. But the FIS will have to select just one of these worthy candidates to organise their flagship event in 2023. The successful candidate will be announced at the 51st International Ski Congress, to be held in Costa Navarino, Greece this May.
In the lead-up to the decision, the two candidates, Saalbach and Courchevel-Méribel, have had to present a detailed concept for the FIS Alpine Skiing World Championships 2023, including information on venues, transportation, environmental sustainability and other logistics.
Prior to the final application, the Austrian Ski Association had chosen Saalbach Hinterglemm over St. Anton am Arlberg. If Saalbach wins the bid, this will be the first time the ski resort hosts the FIS Alpine Skiing World Championships since 1991, although it has held a number of world and European Cup races since then. The Zwölferkogel downhill piste would be well-equipped to host all the competitions, meaning no long journeys, and there are about 20 000 beds available in the resort to accommodate the public.
Saalbach anticipates a budget of around 50 million euros for application, sports and slope infrastructure and marketing. 40% of the costs will be borne by the state, 40% by the federal government and 20% by the municipality. Great emphasis has been placed on environmental sustainability and there is a focus on ensuring the skiing infrastructure doesn’t go to waste in the aftermath of the FIS Alpine Skiing World Championships.
Saalbach promo video
Official Saalbach bid >
The French alpine ski resort of Courchevel-Méribel has a smaller budget of around 42 million euros; they hope to secure 30 million of these from marketing and TV rights. A total of 12-18 million euros will be needed in order to construct a world cup piste in Courchevel and modernise the infrastructure in Méribel.
Michel Vion, President of the French Ski Federation (FFS), is confident that Courchevel stands a fighting chance, especially given that Austria most recently hosted the Alpine Ski World Championships in Schladming (2013) and is slated to organise the Nordic World Championships 2019 in Seefeld. Courchevel is also one of the hosts of the regular FIS World Cup events, which it welcomed most recently in December 2017.
Courchevel-Méribel promo video
Official Courchevel-Méribel bid >
So, Saalbach or Courchevel? Both ski resorts have abundant experience with major sporting events. Both ski resorts are among the most popular skiing destinations in the world. And both have the full-on support of their communities. However the FIS decides, we can expect the losing candidate to resubmit a bid to host the next World Championships two years later. It does appear that the FIS is on a European streak right now – with the exception of the 2015 World Championships which took place in Vail/Beaver Creek, USA, most of the recent FIS World Championships have been staged in Europe: Val d’Isère 2009, Garmisch 2011, Schladming 2013 and St. Moritz 2017. The next FIS World Championships will take place in Åre, Sweden in 2019, and then Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy in 2021.
Planning is already underway for the FIS Alpine Skiing World Championships 2023 and the biggest question is: Austria or France? Both Saalbach and Courchevel-Méribel have submitted bids to host the bi-annual event, which is considered one of the most important competitions in alpine skiing. It’s a tough choice seeing as these are two of the biggest names in the Alps. But the FIS will have to select just one of these worthy candidates to organise their flagship event in 2023. The successful candidate will be announced at the 51st International Ski Congress, to be held in Costa Navarino, Greece this May.
In the lead-up to the decision, the two candidates, Saalbach and Courchevel-Méribel, have had to present a detailed concept for the FIS Alpine Skiing World Championships 2023, including information on venues, transportation, environmental sustainability and other logistics.
Prior to the final application, the Austrian Ski Association had chosen Saalbach Hinterglemm over St. Anton am Arlberg. If Saalbach wins the bid, this will be the first time the ski resort hosts the FIS Alpine Skiing World Championships since 1991, although it has held a number of world and European Cup races since then. The Zwölferkogel downhill piste would be well-equipped to host all the competitions, meaning no long journeys, and there are about 20 000 beds available in the resort to accommodate the public.
Saalbach anticipates a budget of around 50 million euros for application, sports and slope infrastructure and marketing. 40% of the costs will be borne by the state, 40% by the federal government and 20% by the municipality. Great emphasis has been placed on environmental sustainability and there is a focus on ensuring the skiing infrastructure doesn’t go to waste in the aftermath of the FIS Alpine Skiing World Championships.
Saalbach promo video
Official Saalbach bid >
The French alpine ski resort of Courchevel-Méribel has a smaller budget of around 42 million euros; they hope to secure 30 million of these from marketing and TV rights. A total of 12-18 million euros will be needed in order to construct a world cup piste in Courchevel and modernise the infrastructure in Méribel.
Michel Vion, President of the French Ski Federation (FFS), is confident that Courchevel stands a fighting chance, especially given that Austria most recently hosted the Alpine Ski World Championships in Schladming (2013) and is slated to organise the Nordic World Championships 2019 in Seefeld. Courchevel is also one of the hosts of the regular FIS World Cup events, which it welcomed most recently in December 2017.
Courchevel-Méribel promo video
Official Courchevel-Méribel bid >
So, Saalbach or Courchevel? Both ski resorts have abundant experience with major sporting events. Both ski resorts are among the most popular skiing destinations in the world. And both have the full-on support of their communities. However the FIS decides, we can expect the losing candidate to resubmit a bid to host the next World Championships two years later. It does appear that the FIS is on a European streak right now – with the exception of the 2015 World Championships which took place in Vail/Beaver Creek, USA, most of the recent FIS World Championships have been staged in Europe: Val d’Isère 2009, Garmisch 2011, Schladming 2013 and St. Moritz 2017. The next FIS World Championships will take place in Åre, Sweden in 2019, and then Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy in 2021.
Born and raised in the ski paradise of Vancouver, Canada, I learned to ski before I can remember, balancing precariously on my parents’ skis as they sailed down the hill. I started snowboarding in my teens and am now delighted to be exploring everything Europe’s ski scene has to offer!
