2021 WU Candidate: Evaluation Visit – Day 2

LUCERNE – The second day of the Evaluation visit was dedicated to some of the snow sports, Biathlon in Andermatt/Realp in the Canton of Uri, Alpine Skiing on the Stoos in the Canton of Schwyz and Cross-Country Skiing in Einsiedeln also in the same canton.

Andermatt (in front) and Realp, location for Biathlon

In Andermatt in the heart of the Swiss Alps, the FISU Evaluation group with Vice-President Dymalski, CTI Chairman Roth, WU Director Augustin und WU Assistant Forni were welcomed by Beat Jörg, Cantonal Council of Uri and Markus Regli, Leader of Swiss Biathlon. Mr Jörg stated that the project of the Winter Universiade will help to further develop the Biathlon center in Realp with a sustainable solution to become an attractive training and competition center in the region. He presented also the Athletes’ Accommodation Project for the Biathlete teams in Andermatt. After the site visit and discussion of some technical aspects of the venue, the FISU experts, accompanied by Urs Hunkeler, Beat Hensler, Markus Kälin and Leonz Eder from the Candidate OC transferred to the alpine region of Stoos in the Canton of Schwyz.

Stoos, the resort for Alpine Skiing

As it was a very beautiful day a lot of people were skiing in the Stoos resort which gave a good impression of the capacity of that well known area. The FISU guests were greeted by Mr Peter Föhn, Representative of the Canton Schwyz in the National Parliament in Berne, by Bruno Lifart, CEO Stoss Mountain Railways, some of his main staff and also by Franz Heinzer, World Champion Downhill 1991. WU Director Milan Augustin praised the venue and the experience of the Stoos team, and also CTI Chair Roger Roth gave very positive comments to this place which is foreseen for the Alpine skiing competitions.

Athletes’ Accommodation concept in Andermatt, with Cantonal Counsil of Uri, Beat Jörg (4th from right)

Later the site visit of the Cross Country Skiing venue in Einsiedeln was on the very comprehensive programme of the second inspection visit. In Einsiedeln, Mayor Hermann Betschart and other political representatives as well as members of the local ski club presented their plans about the Cross Country competitions. As in Einsiedeln also a Ski jumping venue is located, the local authorities strongly expressed their wish to include Ski jumping and Nordic Combined into the Universiade programme in 2021. This would help them to modify the entire Jumping facility from summer venue – Einsiedeln hosts World Cup competitions in the summer – into winter suitability.

To conclude day two after the visits in Andermatt/Realp, on the Stoos and in Einsiedeln, the FISU Evaluation team was invited to a dinner by City Council Ursula Stämmer-Horst in the Hotel Montana in Lucerne.

(Source: SUSF)