Germany, Feb 27, 2013: The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) announced on Wednesday (27 February) that the Panorama resort in Canada will host the 2015 IPC Alpine Skiing World Championships in Invermere, British Columbia. It will be the seventh edition of the IPC Alpine Skiing World Championships, and the announcement comes on the heels of a very successful 2013 World Championships in La Molina, Spain.
The 2015 Championships, to be organised by Alpine Canada, are expected to draw 120 athletes from 24 February – 4 March 2015, and will be one of several major para-sport competitions Canada hosts in the next few years, as the nation will also hold some IPC Alpine Skiing World Cup events.
The 2015 IPC Alpine Skiing World Championships will follow a successful 2011-12 World Cup final event at Canada’s Panorama Resort, as well as the Vancouver 2010 Games, which IPC President Sir Philip Craven described as the best Winter Games ever.
Xavier Gonzalez, IPC Chief Executive Officer, said: “I am proud to announce Invermere as the host city for the 2015 IPC Alpine Skiing World Championships following the great Paralympic Winter Games that Canada put on nearly three years ago and last year’s World Cup final.”
“I am delighted to see winter para-sport flourishing in Canada, and this will bring it to another level outside of the Paralympic Games.”
Alexandra Starker, Canadian three-time bronze medallist in La Molina, said: “I’m really looking forward to the Championships, as the slopes of British Columbia are where I grew up skiing.”
Viviane Forest, winner of one silver and one bronze for Canada, added: “It’s always an honour to have a major championships in your home country, and hopefully we can attract lots of people to come and cheer for us.
“The home support is always huge for athletes. I remember in Vancouver just to hear the home crowd and see people so into it was amazing.”
Alpine skiing proved to be the most popular sport among viewers at the Vancouver Games, garnering a total audience of more than 690 million, laying a solid foundation for a successful Invermere 2015 event in terms of media coverage.
The most recent World Championships in La Molina drew 118 athletes from 29 countries, who competed across six different disciplines. The IPC Alpine Skiing Sport Technical Committee has worked to bring hundreds of races into the competition schedule over the last several years to build up the sport to a truly elite level. For more information on IPC Alpine Skiing, please visit www.ipc-alpineskiing
IPC Alpine Skiing World Champs close in La Molina
The 2013 IPC Alpine Skiing World Championships in La Molina, Spain came to a close on Wednesday (27 February) with the completion of the ski cross team event. Over the last eight days, 120 athletes from 28 countries competed in 30 medal events. For the second successive Championships France topped the medals table with 12 medals made up of seven gold, two silver and three bronze. Wednesday’s team event, was a non-medal event, and featured fast-paced ski cross for the first time, much to the delight of spectators. Austria took first place, from USA and France in second and third.
In her speech at last night’s closing ceremony, Sylvana Mestre, the Chair of the IPC Alpine Skiing Sport Technical Committee heaped praised on the outstanding commitment of event organisers, volunteers and athletes.
“This event has combined exceptional planning and hard work from the Organising Committee with incredible performances from athletes and guides on an elite level,” said Mestre.
“Around 120 athletes from 28 different countries proved their strength with some sensational finishes on the slopes of Catalunya.”
Amongst the top performers in La Molina was France’s Marie Bochet, who was victorious in all five individual events she competed in. A number of skiers also won three gold medals including Spain’s Jon Santacana (guide Miguel Galindo Garces), Russia’s Alexandra Frantseva (guide Pavel Zabotin), Austria’s Claudia Loesch and Japan’s Taiki Morii. Mestre was keen however not just to acknowledge those athletes who had won medals, but all athletes, and said she was excited about what lay ahead.
Sylvana Mestre said: “For many of you, this is a step that continues your training for future competitions. For others, this was your first experience of a World Championships. Either way, I hope you have reached your goal of success here in La Molina.
“I can confidently say that when we all meet again at the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games, what we will see will inspire and excite the world, helping to fulfil the IPC’s vision.
At the closing ceremony Mestre also announced that the Panorama resort in Invermere, Canada will host the 2015 IPC Alpine Skiing World Championships. For more information on the 2013 IPC Alpine Skiing World Championships, including race highlights and results, please visit: www.ipcalpineskiingworlds.org —- IPC
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