The event has been officially opened, find out more about what the skiiers should expect from the course.
The IPC Alpine Skiing World Championships
16 Jan 2011
Yesterday, the 2011 International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Alpine Skiing World Championships were officially opened following a festive ceremony at the Palazzetto dello Sport in the town square of Sestriere, Italy.
The Opening Ceremony was a celebration for the athletes who are in the ski resort competing this week at the Championships and welcoming speeches were given by Local Organizing Committee President Gianfranco Martin and IPC President Sir Philip Craven.
IPC President Sir Philip Craven said: “When you have such a wonderful competition and when it is the first World Championships following the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games, it is the start of a new cycle. So it is the ideal year for nations to bring their latest and most dynamic athletes to the World Championships and this is the time to see the new competition as we start to move forward to the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games.”
The athletes have been preparing on the slopes tirelessly over the past two days, in preparation for competition to start today.
German skier Thomas Nolte was one of the many skiers who practiced on the steep slopes. He said “There are corners like between gates seven and eight where you really have to work hard at the turns, which will be great for racing”.
Overall, the final day of preparations was successful, and skiers can expect the best conditions over the next few days in Sestriere.
