Members of the German Ski Association, including FIS Council Member Alfons Hormann, together with the Oberstdorf Local Organising Committee and Tourism Bureau welcomed members from FIS and Infront, the official broadcast and marketing partner of Oberstdorf 2021.

On Monday, the Coordination Group members held a preliminary technical inspection of the Cross Country venue and the Ski Jumping stadium. The three FIS Nordic Race Directors provided feedback about what is necessary to adapt in the next five years to present the world with a top-level World Championship.

Beforehand Oberstdorf is hosting the 2018 FIS Ski Flying World Championships and the Coordination Group also took the chance to check out progress on the construction on the flying hill, which is well underway.

The kick-off meeting was the first official step for Oberstdorf after being elected as the FIS Nordic World Ski Championship 2021 host last June at the FIS Congress in Cancun (MEX) and week’s meetings marked the first opportunity for Oberstdorf to take centre stage.

“We are so excited and ready to start this journey,” said Stefan Huber CEO of the Oganising Committee. “In Cancun when we were awarded the rights to host the 2021 World Championships, it marked the end of a very long chapter for us. Now we are excited to start the next step and get ready to bring the World to Oberstdorf to host an unforgettable World Championships.”

The plans presented are in their infancy, but already the Organising Committee has a clear direction with concrete ideas. Thanks to their vast World Cup hosting experience, much of the framework is in place.

“Oberstdorf is one of our most loyal and reliable World Cup hosts for all three of our Nordic disciplines, in fact just the day before today’s meetings, they hosted the finals of the Nordic Combined Grand Prix and Youth Cup with a full programme to even match a Championship day!” said FIS Secretary General Sarah Lewis. “There is no doubt that their vast experience will be very useful during the next five years to also integrate the next generation in the Local Organising Committee.. On the journey to 2021 the Ski Flying World Championships in 2018 will also be a perfect catalyst to generate even greater excitement in the community.”