Sofia Goggia in Saalbach-Hinterglemm. © APA / EXPA/JOHANN GRODER

Saalbach team optimistic: “Most relaxed World Cup ever”

Four weeks before the opening, the organizing team of the Alpine Ski World Championships from February 4 to 16 in Saalbach-Hinterglemm was optimistic that they would be able to manage this major sporting event well.

07 January 2025

From: apa/sn

"The backdrop is wintry, the stands are there. We were able to implement everything we had planned," said ÖSV General Secretary Christian Scherer, CEO of Saalbach 2025, on Tuesday at a press conference at the valley station of the Zwölferkogel, where all eleven races will take place.

With around 90.000 visitor tickets sold so far out of a total of 150.000, they are well on schedule. "We are very satisfied," said Scherer, predicting that interest in the tickets will only increase. Today, the organization team is starting the final phase. "In general, we are a bit ahead of schedule," emphasized Florian Phleps, project manager of Saalbach 2025. The goal of using as much of the existing infrastructure as possible and involving service providers and partners from the region has been achieved, as has the requirement to ensure 100 percent of skiing operations during the World Cup.

“Our piste team is working at full speed”

The period from October to the end of December was very good for preparations, said Phleps. The last part of the stadium is now beginning to be built, and the official approval will take place at the end of January. Bartl Gensbichler, head of sports at Saalbach 2025 and president of the Salzburg State Ski Association (SLSV), also exuded optimism. "We are well prepared. The winter has started well, we are relatively far along with the snowmaking. Our piste team is working at full speed, and the weather gods are also helping us. We will begin with high security from January 20th."

The slopes in Saalbach-Hinterglemm are said to be perfectly groomed. © APA / EXPA/JOHANN GRODER

The snow check will take place on January 24th. "We could do that now," said Gensbichler, given the good snow conditions, and also made a promise: There will be another "sunshine world championship" like the 1991 World Ski Championship in Saalbach-Hinterglemm. They are also satisfied with the number of registered racers. The pre-entry list includes 248 women and 382 men from 73 nations.

According to Wolfgang Breitfuss, director of the Saalbach-Hinterglemm tourism association, who is primarily responsible for the fan mile, it should be “the coolest ski world championship of all time – that is our goal”.

Still few details about opening ceremony

The organizers were a bit tight-lipped about the details of the program for the opening ceremony on February 4. The opening ceremony in four acts with 37 artists involved will be combined with the parallel team competition; the focus will be on the athletes, said Scherer. "It will be an atmospheric start to the Ski World Championships." The program is exciting, varied and entertaining. Protocol elements have been shortened; there will only be one speech by a person physically present, namely the FIS President. As a sign of appreciation, the people of Saalbach-Hinterglemm will be invited to the opening ceremony.

When asked what the balance sheet should be on February 16, it was said that they wanted "a great, accident-free World Championship with a successful Austrian team, and a World Championship that sparks enthusiasm for skiing and winter tourism in Austria." Of course, the ÖSV also wants to make money from it, and this wish can be fulfilled if there are enough spectators and good weather. Scherer assumes that the balance sheet will be balanced. The World Championship event budget is 50 million euros.