The FIS Governing Body got together in Cape Town, South Africa, last Thursday to vote for the resorts who would be hosting the coming skiing events in the different divisions. Schladming, in Austria, along with St. Moritz in Switzerland, Vail-Beaver Creek of the United States and Cortina d’Ampezzo located in Italy, were all hoping to win the votes for the Alpine skiing event. With ten of the sixteen votes, Schladming was the hands down winner. They hosted the World Ski Championships in 1982, and therefore have the experience and the knowledge to ensure a smooth sailing championship.

The 2009 world championship will be hosted by Val d’Isere in France, with the 2011 world championships being held in Germany, at Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Other 2013 championships were also allocated last week and the votes determined that the ski flying championships will be held in Norway (Vikersund), the Nordic skiing will take place in Italy (Val Di Fiemme) and snowboarding will be hosted by Canada (Stoneham).

While the countries that were not selected for the upcoming championships are disappointed, they have congratulated the winning countries and have already started to work on their campaign for the 2015 skiing championships. Their dedication to skiing as a sport seems to out weigh the importance of being host countries to the big events. But there will be more world championships to come, which will hopefully give the United States, Italy or Switzerland the opportunity they are bidding for. For now, it will be Schladming that will be preparing and organizing the hosting of the 2013 World Ski Championship. With its seemingly endless runs blanketed by magnificent snow scenes and the welcoming enthusiasm of the locals, Schladming is the ideal destination for a skiing holiday and the hosting of a world class event.

Related posts:

1. Randall Shines at the 2009 Nordic World Ski Championships
2. FIS Junior Championships 2010
3. FIS World Cup Championships 2007