Champions Celebration
40th anniversary of the Ski World Cup
In 2005 the International Ski Federation FIS celebrated the 40th anniversary of the Alpine Ski World Cup. Alto Adige/SĂĽdtirol was the centre of attention as it played host to this important celebration. The World Cup winners of all times were invited to Val Gardena and Alta Badia for the "Champions Celebration", which took place during the world cup competitions (Super G, Descent, Giant Slalom) on the 16th, 17th and 18th of December.
What started out 40 years ago with a few World Cup competitions has become consolidated over the years, becoming an important circuit within the winter sports sector. The Circo Bianco (The White Circuit) has grown over the years, not only thanks to the expertise of the athletes, but also thanks to the masterful skills of their teams, the national ski federations, the entrepreneurial organisers of the individual resorts and the ski clubs.
Champions of all times gathered together for an unforgettable event
An overall number of 18 women and 22 men from 12 different countries have been crowned winners of the general World Cup throughout the years. Among these successful athletes some repeated champions are worth a mention, such as: Annemarie Moser-Pröll, Gustav Thöni, Pirmin Zurbriggen, Vreni Schneider, Hermann Maier, Marc Girardelli, Katja Seizinger, Janica Kostelic, Anja Pearson, Petra Kronberger, Maria Walliser, Nancy Green, Stefan Eberharter, Karl Schranz, just to name a few, along with Alberto Tomba who won the Cup in 1995.
Val Gardena officially welcomed the world champions on Thursday December 15th. A dinner was held in an alpine hut for the athletes in the evening. During the official bib-handover, which took place on Friday evening in the Sant’Antonio Square in Ortisei, the illustrious guests met with current athletes and fans. Following this, there was a dinner with the representatives of the media. During the World Cup competitions the guests of honour were presented to the public and the guests.
Alta Badia on the other hand played host to these great champions and the organisers of the World Cup during the bip draw in the centre of La Villa and during the gala evening at the Corvara tennis stadium.
Within the context of the “Champions Celebration” two other important celebrations were also marked: the 20 years of the Cup in Alta Badia and Erich Demetz’s 20th anniversary as the president of the Alpine Committee of the Ski World Cup.
The aim of this celebration was to create and consolidate the relations between great ski champions and the various sector categories; it was also to recall the fundamental stages of the F.I.S. Alpine Ski World Cup.
…..
Val Gardena World Cup Press Office – E-mail: media@saslong.org - Tel. 0471/793450 – Mobile 328/76854619 – Person to contact: Gernot Mussner /Stefania Demetz
Alta Badia Press Office – E-mail:press.point@altabadia.org – Tel. 0471/847037 – Mobile 338/8543309 –Person to contact: Christian Pizzinini
