The 48th FIS Congress in Korea will bring about the decision of the host of the 2017 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships. In next four days we will be presenting you all four candidates from Lahti, Oberstdorf, Zakopane and Planica.
We asked the potential organizers four questions. Here are the answers and you can cheer for your favorite. The winner will be elected on 31st May 2012. The first candidate to be presented is Lahti.
Q: Why is Lahti a candidate to host 2017 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships? How many times have you run your bid?
Nordic Skiing has been without any doubts the most popular, most followed and internationally most successful sport in Finnish history. That is why organizing the 2017 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Finland on its 100th anniversary of independence is not only important for Finland as a nation but also a wish come true for most Finns. Lahti as a winter sports capital of Finland is the best place in Finland to organize World Ski Championships.
Moreover, FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Lahti would be a needed boost in order to get more children, amateur skiers, top athletes, spectators, TV viewers, media coverage and sponsors involved to our sports in Finland. In addition, with investments to facilities and know-how of organization we would be able to offer FIS even greater World Cup events in the future.
Third. People in Lahti, and elsewhere in Finland, want to host the Championships. There is no opposition toward our candidature. Furthermore Championships would be a great reward for Lahti after significant and continuous investments to the venue since 1920's. Lahti is applying for the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships now for the third time in a row.
Q: What makes you different from the other candidates?
The basic principle for Lahti's application and documentation was to rethink once again every single aspect of organizing World Ski Championships from the perspective of the most important target groups. As a result our candidature committee came up with a concept of "Join the Celebration". We believe this is an application that offers FIS Family great and unique tools for the promotion of Nordic Skiing worldwide.
For athletes we are able to provide the venue with tens of thousands of spectators and great atmosphere at all WSC competitions in all three disciplines of Nordic Skiing. All competitions take place at the same competition venue. The Athletes' Village will be one of the unique offers for teams providing high quality accommodation and all possible services and facilities for training, recreation and relaxation for all teams at one place.
TV and Media will be offered unique working conditions set up. All key operations (IBC, TV-compound, MPC) with all services are located under the same roof inside a renovated Exhibition and Sports Hall – 90 seconds walk away from both mixed zone areas.
Regarding sponsors and hospitality the competition venue in Lahti offers facilities for premium hospitality services for more than 10’000 visitors every single day - thanks to extension and renovation of the Exhibition Centre and Ice-Hockey Arena.
In Finland, spectators would breathe the Championships atmosphere throughout the whole country. Our concept for Ski Festival consists of more than 100 cultural events before and during the Championships. By combining culture to sports we not only create the Championships atmosphere but also provide totally new promotion channels for our sports worldwide. The celebration of 100th anniversary of the Republic of Finland would be linked to the biggest international event of the year - FIS Nordic World Ski Championships.
Q: What is the core of your bid? What would the Champs at your venue be like and what would people remember in 2027 about them?
The 2017 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Lahti would give the FIS Family an example of the highest quality organizing of such an event. Especially the athletes would remember the Championships of its new and unique concepts for accommodation and team services as well as great WSC competitions.
In 2027 people would remember Lahti's Join the Celebration - the concept that brought maximum attention and promotion toward Nordic Skiing with more than one hundred Ski Festival events and one million visitors during the Championships.
Furthermore, the Championships would leave a legacy of the Green Championships. Best practices were to be used by the following organizers of major sports events as well.
Q: What are your plans for the final phase of your candidacy before the FIS Congress in Korea?
Candidature Committee of Lahti will use the final weeks prior the decision to communicate the contents of Lahti's "Join the Celebration" concept to the FIS Family. During the FIS Congress we wish to welcome everyone to visit our exhibition stand in order to find out and discuss more of our concept and ideas for organizing the 2017 World Championships.
Find more information on www.lahti2017.fi
