Val Gardena/Gröden has come a first step closer to its big dream of hosting the 2029 Alpine World Ski Championships. The Italian winter sports federation FISI voted on Thursday noon in favor of a candidacy of the South Tyrolean World Cup organizer at the international level. In the duel with Sestriere, Val Gardena/Gröden prevailed in a secret vote with 8:2 votes of the total of ten delegates. Val Gardena/Gröden hosted World Championships in 1970.

In recent months, Val Gardena/Gröden and Sestriere had expressed their interest in bidding for the title events in eight years' time and subsequently submitted an extensive dossier to the headquarters of the Italian winter sports federation FISI. On Thursday, the two opponents were able to present their ideas for the 2029 Alpine World Ski Championships to the board of the national body. Speaking for Val Gardena/Gröden were Rainer Senoner (President of the Saslong Classic Club), Roland Demetz (Mayor of Selva), Christoph Vinatzer (President Dolomites Val Gardena) and Igor Marzola (representative of the lift operators in Val Gardena and member of the Saslong Classic Club). In addition, a video message from the governor of South Tyrol, Arno Kompatscher, was played, in which he also spoke in favor of world championships in South Tyrol.

At noon, the eagerly awaited secret ballot was finally held, in which Gardena/Gröden prevailed with 8:2 votes. The joy and relief about this first election victory on a national level were enormous for all involved. "With great humility and a lot of respect we accept the election and would like to thank the Italian winter sports federation FISI for the trust. At the same time, our thanks go to all those involved in preparing and supporting this national bid. This was a first step on a long road. Now we will sit down with all political, tourist, economic and sporting partners and plan the next steps in detail," said the Saslong Classic Club in a first reaction. At the same time, the Val Gardena/Gröden delegation congratulated Sestriere for the successful presentation and thanked it for the fair competition.

After the successful bid at the national level, the concentration of the Saslong Classic Club is now back on the World Cup, which returns to Val Gardena/Gröden again this winter on the last weekend before Christmas. The 54th edition of the prestigious speed classic will take place in front of spectators on Friday, December 17 (super-G) and Saturday, December 18 (downhill). All information on the advance sale of tickets will be announced by the organizers shortly.