Posted on 01 July 2018
Courchevel and Meribel, two highly popular French Alp ski resorts will be host venues for the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships 2023. The decision was made at the 51st FIS Congress, making this the first time in 9 years since France has hosted the event. France last hosted the championships in 2009, at the prestigious, up and coming resort of Val d’Isère.
Courchevel and Meribel are not newcomers to champion events because both have hosted the Audi FIS World Cup. FIS is confident that Courchevel and Meribel will delight athletes, fans and media with their efforts. The French Ski Association and its athletes are likewise pleased with the honour.
Courchevel and Meribel’s budget for is 42 million euros although they are predicting a gain of 30 million from media and broadcasting rights. Organizers will also spend 12 to 18 million euros on upgrading infrastructure, facilities and amenities.
FIS Alpine World Ski Championships 2023 Candidates
FIS received four applications by the deadline of May 1st, 2017. Planica in northern-west Slovenia, Trondheim in Norway, and Saalbach-Hinterglemm in Austria were the other candidates.
After the first application, candidates held their first briefing with the FIS, before following up with a detailed project plan in September 2017. Detailed planning included potential venues, workforce size, commercial rights, media broadcasting, accommodation beds, security as well as transport infrastructure.
Environmental sustainability was a strong point of the application process as organisers were keen to ensure venues did not fall into rack and ruin after the event.
Courchevel and Meribel won with a vote of nine to six over Saalbach. Austria has said they will support France and instead look forward to hosting the 2025 FIS World Championships. Line-up venue includes Are, Sweden in 2019, and Cortina d’Ampezzo in Italy for 2011.
History of the FIS and Alpine World Championships
The race first held in 1931 was only hosted in Europe during the 1930s and 1040s but suffered postponements and distributions during World War Two. Connected with the Olympics for several years, Aspen in the United States was the first non-European venue in 1950.
The race is governed by the FIS (International Ski Federation) that focuses on the Olympic disciplines of ski jumping, alpine and freestyle skiing, as well as snowboarding, Nordic combined and cross country. 118 country-specific ski associations belong to the organization. No doubt, the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships 2023 will be just as delightful as other years.