July 9, 2008 – With 231 days remaining until the start of the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Liberec (CZE), the organizing committee last week joined forces with the Czech Prime Minister to inform on the status of event preparations. Together with Mirek Topolánek, Prime Minister, along with Deputy Minister of Education Jan Kocourek, FIS Council Member and President of the Czech Olympic Committee Milan Jirásek, Lord Mayor of Liberec Jirí Kittner, President of the Czech Ski Association Lukás Sobotka, Katerina Neumannová, President of the organizing committee, presented the official program, ticket prices and TV vignette as well as a full-sized mascot to the media.

“I would personally like to congratulate Katerina on what she has achieved with her team for the Championship preparations. She joined the organization under complicated circumstances and put her name on a project that was in a poor shape,“ said Topolánek. “Katerina enjoys my full confidence,” he continued. “If we had not intervened last year, we would not be here now,” he said. “I was not the one who suggested Katerina, but I agreed to her nomination and it was the right decision,” the prime minister concluded.

The organizing committee released the World Championship vignette, the official visual appearance that millions of TV viewers will see. The short feature film/animation uses motives of Liberec, Prague and the three disciplines Cross-Country Skiing, Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined. The mascot – lion by the name LIBI – also made its first “live“ appearance in the Czech Republic.