Excitement is growing in Crans-Montana as it prepares to host the men’s Ski World Cup, featuring downhill and Super-G races. Mayor Nicolas Féraud is optimistic about the event’s potential to enhance the town’s reputation, which has suffered due to past construction issues. Amid community opposition, plans for a new target building have progressed legally, allowing construction to begin post-World Cup. Challenges remain, including limited hotel accommodations and athlete concerns about the racecourse’s difficulty.
Excitement Builds for Crans-Montana’s Ski World Cup
Nicolas Féraud, the mayor of Crans-Montana, expresses a sense of relief as the men’s Ski World Cup unfolds in the picturesque Haut-Plateau region. This weekend, the thrilling downhill race takes place on Saturday, followed by the Super-G on Sunday. These events serve as a precursor to the highly anticipated Ski World Championships, set to occur in Crans-Montana in just two years. It marks a significant anniversary, as it has been four decades since the town last hosted the World Championships in 1987, a pivotal moment that ignited a legendary gold rush for the Swiss ski team and forever linked Crans-Montana with skiing excellence.
The Valais mountain resort is keenly optimistic that this event will provide a much-needed boost to its image. Despite its stunning location, Crans-Montana has faced challenges due to poorly planned apartment construction during a building boom, leaving a mark on its aesthetic appeal. By hosting such prestigious sporting events, the town aims to rejuvenate its reputation. However, the journey towards the 2027 World Championships has faced its share of obstacles, but Féraud is hopeful for a turnaround.
Construction Plans and Community Concerns
Next week marks a significant milestone as excavators are set to arrive on site. Féraud, who also holds the position of vice president of the World Championship organizing committee, recently participated in a lengthy seven-hour meeting. While he remains tight-lipped about the details, he did share that consensus has finally been achieved regarding the construction of a new target building.
This target building has been a contentious issue within the community, as residents have voiced their opposition to the project, which entails a complete renovation of the aging structure along with the addition of an underground parking facility and a depot, costing approximately 15 million francs. Concerns over potential negative impacts led residents to file objections against the building permit, but these objections were ultimately rejected by all legal instances, including the Federal Court last Wednesday. With the building permit now legally valid, a contract is set to be signed next week to address any remaining questions between the organizers and local residents.
The ongoing disputes over the target building have been just one chapter in the tumultuous narrative surrounding the 2027 World Championships, coinciding with the current Ski World Cup. Earlier this year, CEO Caroline Kuyper departed shortly after her appointment amid conflicts, and the FIS even threatened the Swiss Ski Association with the potential withdrawal of the World Championships over failed contract negotiations.
This week, headlines hinted at the Championships being in jeopardy due to unresolved issues concerning the target building. However, following the Federal Court’s decision, the path is now clear for construction to commence after the World Cup races conclude. “Time is of the essence,” Féraud stresses, as the new facility must be ready by October 2025, just in time for the ski season.
Didier Défago, who took over as CEO of the 2027 World Championships in May 2023 and is a former gold medalist in downhill skiing, shares Féraud’s relief as the resolution of the target stadium issue will facilitate his planning efforts. However, he and his team still face significant challenges ahead. One pressing concern is the limited availability of hotel accommodations, with only around 3,500 rooms projected for the World Championships, compared to over 10,000 that were available in Saalbach. Additionally, after recent downhill training sessions, top athletes like Marco Odermatt and Dominik Paris have voiced concerns about the course set for the World Championship downhill, deeming it too easy.