Q: Spain has a long history with the World Championships, Sierra Nevada in 1996 and now with the World Championship. Is the FIS family comfortable in Spain?
A: Oh yes of course, we have a long tradition in Spain and Spain has a very good organization for major events. We have been in the Sierra Nevada already in 1977 with the big event for the Alpine World Cup Finals and we have been back in Sierra Nevada with the World Championships even twice. The first year we had to cancel because of bad weather, but then we had the world championships and now in La Molina. What I have seen up to now is a young team a good team organizing it, they’ve done a lot of work during the last few years and I’ve spoken to a few athletes and they’re all very happy with what they’ve seen. Unfortunately there’s not much natural snow left but it’s all over Europe in the last two weeks, but the courses are fine because the artificial snow is very well prepared.
Q: La Molina has a short but intense experience in World Cup, in ski and snowboard. How do you feel the atmosphere is here?
A: Well I think the public likes to have major competitions here, they like snowboard, there’s a lot of young people here. I was also at the Big Air event in Barcelona the first night and there was a lot of noise and a lot of entertainment. I think it’s a very nice atmosphere for the tourists also and of course for the championships.
Q: Spain wants to go a little bit further and we want bigger events in future. What is the FIS position about that?
A: Well we’re always happy to come to Spain, it’s up to the Spanish Winter Sports Federation of course to make an application, I know that there are many discussions going on. I’m informed as member of the International Olympic Committee that Barcelona and Zaragoza are both competing for the Olympic Winter games in 2022. The decision, as far as I know in Spain, will only be taken in 2013 to decide which will be the candidate. But I think it’s an excellent idea that Spain is coming back also for the biggest sports event we have in the winter Olympic games.
A: What are the measureable points when choosing a place for the Olympics?
Q: Well for the Olympics we need the necessary installations, which means the courses. The most difficult thing is always the downhill course because that has to be found. For freestyle, for snowboard, for cross country and for ski jumping, it’s relatively easy to build the necessary installations, but we like of course a public that is really motivated for Olympic games. But let’s be honest, 2022 is far away. In the meantime, I hope that Spain can organize major ski competitions, it’s important for us to have more or less a base if you want in Southern Europe near to Africa and I think for this, Spain is really the right place.
Q: What about the different sports. Is it better that they are together or spread out? What do you think?
A: Well for the Olympics it should be as concentrated as possible. I’m aware that you have some problems being in Zaragoza or Barcelona with the cross country for instance because you have to go a little bit further away and everything else and of course the downhill. But of course the rest can be built you could even have a jump in the middle of the city, such things can be done, it’s no problem.
Q: Talking about the Olympics we’re going to hold the Slopestyle event this Saturday and that’s the beginning of the race for Slopestyle to be in the Olympics, correct?
A: Yes the International Olympic Committee has decided in principle that all five requests that FIS has made, could theoretically be included in the Olympic program. The question is now how it will work with the World Championships that’s why it’s so important in la Molina to have the Slopestyle and then the IOC president himself will take a decision in spring of this year. But I’m extremely optimistic that all of the five requests from FIS will be included.
Q: Finally, what do you think of the people here in La Molina and Barcelona?
A: The Spanish people are friendly there is no question, but particularly the team doing the organization is a very friendly team and also the volunteers they’re all really motivated. This is a very important part of organizing the championships because the volunteers for me are the heart and the spirit of every game.
