Ski Chief Kasper: Olympic Downhill is Here to Stay

(ATR) Despite his own recent provocative comments, International Ski Federation (FIS) president Gian-Franco Kasper guaranteed the Olympic downhill skiing will remain on the Olympic program.

"One thing is for sure, we will never give up the downhill – it will always be in the Olympic Games and there is absolutely nothing to worry about," Kasper said, addressing an audience at the FIS Forum Alpinum in Soelden, Austria.

"Honestly, this was never really a question, but if some IOC bureaucrats start to look into the cost of the Olympic Games, then they might say building the downhill course costs a lot of money and same for bobsleigh and luge," Kasper said. "So we have to make sure this never really becomes an issue to discuss within the IOC."

Kasper said that events in the extensive Nordic program are also safe.

"Don’t worry, we will fight for it, and not only for Alpine skiing, but also for our Nordic disciplines," said Kasper, whose federation is responsible for more than 50 percent of the events at the Winter Games.

"There are other things that you can eliminate within the Olympics, but for sure not the sport essentials."

The veteran ski leader and Swiss IOC member informed that he initially made the remarks to FIS staff as a warning to be financially responsible. His comments found their way to the media and were taken seriously by many in the Alpine ski world.

"We don’t need a Buckingham Palace as a starting gate for the downhill," Kasper told Around the Rings.

"We need to be a little modest or the Games will kill themselves and one day nobody will be interested."

Although Kasper promised that the downhill race for Beijing 2022 is not in jeopardy, he advised that a change of venue is possible. The Beijing venue plan calls for an alpine ski center to be developed in Yanqing, however it could be moved to slopes on the other side of the valley, but outside of Beijing’s Hebei province.

"We will give them the advice and inform on what we see," Kasper said of an upcoming FIS visit to Beijing. "We have seven years, so it’s not a problem for the Games, but they should probably know as soon as possible for their own commercial interest."

Kasper re-iterated that lack of natural snow at either venue could pose problems and both would need to rely upon extensive snowmaking.

"They have to build water pools and pipeline, but this is typical for China," Kasper said.

Kasper joked that Beijing Mayor Wang Anshun told him: "If you don’t like Chinese water, we can also build a pipeline from Switzerland and bring in Swiss water."

Regarding the proposed downhill venue in Yanqing, Kasper said, "We have checked the area, the mountains are OK, the vertical drop is good, but it will be a little bit steep," noting it will very difficult for ski racers from less experienced alpine countries.

In terms of all alpine, freestyle, Nordic and snowboard venues, FIS secretary general Sarah Lewis said, "We are working hard to making sure that that the first steps for China are in place."

Kasper noted that FIS will stage 330 World Cup events in various disciplines this winter, all of which will be televised.

The 2015-16 season opens with a women’s giant slalom on Saturday in Soelden, followed by a men’s GS on Sunday.

AIJS Skieur d’Or Awarded To Hirscher and Fenninger

Austrian stars Marcel Hirscher and Anna Fenninger were chosen as co-winners of the Association of International Ski Journalists (AIJS) Skier d’Or award.

The annual honor, also known as the Serge Lang Trophy, is awarded to ski racers who not only excel on the mountain, but also have a friendly rapport with media.

Hirscher is seeking to become the first skier in World Cup history to win five consecutive overall titles.

Fenninger suffered torn ligaments in a training crash in Soelden on Wednesday. The popular 26-year-old racer is out for the season, a tremendous disappointment for both Austria and Alpine skiing fans.

Written by Brian Pinelli

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