FLASHBACK
Yes, Crans-Montana/Valais will host
the 2027 World Championships
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That’s it! Forty years after 1987, Crans-Montana is once again the epicentre of world skiing.The International Ski Federation (FIS) council awarded the organisation of the 2027 World Championships to Crans-Montana on Wednesday 25 May 2022. The world's best skiers will once again compete on the Haut-Plateau - 40 years after the memorable celebration of skiing in 1987. Thanks to a strong bid and excellent teamwork between the Bid Committee, the political authorities, the ski lifts company and Swiss-Ski, Crans-Montana was rewarded in Milan. The Valais resort prevailed in the 1st ballot with a majority of 11 votes.“Obtaining the 2027 World Championships is the reward for the excellent work carried out by the whole team over the last few years," said Urs Lehmann, President of Swiss-Ski and Vice President of the Bid Committee. “Our project was the most convincing because everyone, from the municipality to the canton Valais, pulled together. We also had widespread support from the ski lifts company and the local population. The members of the FIS Council recognised and honoured this.” The 1993 downhill world champion is himself one of the decision-makers, and was therefore able to lend his voice to the Valais bid.
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Nicolas Féraud, President of the Bid Committee, also referred to a "very high level bid" which made him "proud". The President of the Association of Crans-Montana Municipalities has already promised to "do everything possible to make the event memorable" and intends to take advantage of the experience gained from organising FIS World Cup events in particular. "The technical knowledge and enthusiasm of the local population for skiing are widely recognised in Valais, and particularly in Crans-Montana”.
For his part, Marius Robyr expects "a magnificent festival of skiing that will attract over 200,000 spectators and, once again, there are sure to be breathtaking Swiss performances on the snow". The Executive Director of the bid underlines Crans-Montana’s "enormous experience", having organised World Cup and European Cup events almost every year since 2008. The Valais resort also successfully hosted the European Cup finals in 2009, and the World Junior Championships in 2011.
“The legendary Nationale and Mont Lachaux pistes have been completely redeveloped in recent years. Our master plan, which was drawn up several years ago, has paid off", says Hugo Steinegger, Executive Vice President of the bid. "A new, state-of-the-art, multi-functional finishing stadium will also be built before the World Championships.”
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OUR VISION
Authentic • Sustainable • Eco-responsible • Innovative
Located in the splendid canton of Valais, Crans-Montana wants to organise memorable FIS Alpine World Ski Championships, reviving its glorious past and in the image of the events that took place in 1987. The region is a true reference for sports, particularly winter sports, and wants to take advantage of this opportunity to share its expertise, allowing Switzerland to shine and present a dynamic image to the whole world. The enthusiasm generated by such an event will strengthen national cohesion and solidarity, invite social mixing and lay foundations for the future, offering a huge legacy and accelerating the promotion of sustainable development.
Reasons for our candidature
Crans-Montana 2027 is a project supported by the entire country, and therefore by all stakeholders. Swiss-Ski is supporting the bid, as it fits perfectly with its clear strategy of organising major snow sports events. The federation is supported with great determination by the local, cantonal and federal authorities, the local and cantonal tourism promotion bodies and the resort’s ski lifts.
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CRANS-MONTANA
IN THE HEART OF THE ALPS
Located on a vast plateau in Valais, at an altitude of 1,500 metres, Crans-Montana offers a panorama that stretches from the Matterhorn to Mont Blanc. The resort inaugurated Switzerland’s first ski lift almost a century ago, and has since enjoyed a very solid reputation in the ski world.
Crans-Montana offers all the benefits of an urban lifestyle in the mountains, with a wide range of quality hotels and restaurants, shops, boutiques, wellness facilities and vibrant nightlife. The destination is under 3 hours from the airports in Geneva, Zurich, Basel and Milan. It has excellent rail and road links, with four access routes from the valley floor.
Quality accomodation
Crans-Montana and its surrounding area is distinguished by a large amount of accommodation of all types, meaning the needs of all stakeholders in the 2027 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships would be met. The destination offers almost 50,000 beds. In addition to a wide range of hotels, there is a considerable amount of other accommodation in the resort, ranging from apartments and chalets to a youth hostel and campsite. The surrounding area also offers many possibilities.
URBAN LIFESTYLE IN THE MOUNTAINS
Crans-Montana is a place where you can forget everyday stress and fully enjoy living in the moment. The region pampers its guests and families with lots of different activities and entertainment. Those who enjoy well-being and shopping are invited to relax in one of the magnificent spas, or treat themselves in the Rue du Prado, where you can find a host of the most beautiful luxury brands in the heart of the Alps. Gourmets can enjoy a wide range of international cuisine, from traditional mountain cabin fare to Michelinstar restaurants. A casino, a bowling alley, a 3D cinema and lots of bars and clubs make Crans-Montana a popular place for visitors looking for a dynamic and lively destination.
BIG EVENTS EXPERIENCE
For many years, Crans-Montana, Valais and Switzerland have been hosting major sporting events. Alpine skiing is probably the discipline in which the Valais resort has accumulated the most experience over the years, alongside golf. The Omega European Masters, one of the most prestigious tournaments in Europe, is held every year since 1939 on the Haut-Plateau. Crans-Montana is also lucky enough to host the Nines, a freestyle skiing and snowboarding event that brings together the best specialists in the world. The World Mountain Bike Championships will also be stopping off in the resort.
There is no lack of culture either, with several high-profile events, including the worldrenowned Caprices festival. The Etoile Bella Lui Festival lights up the resort during the holiday season. The aim is to take advantage of all the existing skills in Crans-Montana, which is known for hosting a large number of events, in order to put these to good use.
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A LIVING TRADITION
Crans-Montana is a resort that is popular with visitors both in winter and summer. Its ski area extends from an altitude of 1,500 metres as far as the Plaine Morte glacier at 3,000 metres, and the world’s first downhill race, organised by the Englishman Sir Arnold Lunn, took place here in 1911. While the first slopes were already being used for skiing by the end of the 19th century, Crans-Montana also inaugurated the country’s first ski lift in 1936. Today, the impressive ski area has 25 high-performance lifts serving 140 km of slopes.
Since the 1940s, Crans-Montana has regularly hosted major alpine skiing competitions. A considerable number of local, regional, national and international events have been held here, culminating in the FIS World Championships in 1987. The resort has also hosted the FIS World Cup Finals in 1992 and 1998, as well as 52 FIS World Cup and more than 50 European Cup events for women and men since 1977, including the Finals in 2009, and the FIS Junior World Championships in 2011. To keep up with the evolution of the discipline, the pistes used on these occasions have been regularly adapted.
TOP NAMES IN CRANS-MONTANA
Since the first FIS World Cup races in Crans-Montana in 1977, many great names in alpine skiing have distinguished themselves on the resort’s demanding slopes.
Unforgettable ceremonies
The opening ceremony of the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships would take place at the Ycoor Forum. In the heart of Crans-Montana, and the very centre of the destination, this site is able to accommodate 7,000 people for a grandiose sound and light show. The closing ceremony would take place in the finish stadium. All the World Championships events would be the subject of a global reflection, designed to create a festive atmosphere throughout the resort. Since it has been organising international events, the resort has enjoyed an excellent reputation for its entertainment and atmosphere.
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STRENGTH OF CRANS-MONTANA 2027
Strong points
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Unique location in the heart of the Alps
Long tradition of skiing and hosting races to the highest international standards
40 years on, relive the emotions of the 1987 World Ski Championships, an all-round success
A competent and experienced Organising Committee, used to organising major events in close cooperation with Swiss-Ski -
Two magnificent and demanding pistes with a common finish area
A brand new stadium with all the infrastructure required by the FIS
An innovative concept for the new Barzettes area, with a state-of-the-art gondola lift, underground car park and hotel facilities in addition to the stadium -
Race organisation with infrastructure designed for sustainable use
High quality accommodation in hotels, apartments and chalets
Efficient and well-functioning transport for spectators, including an extensive public transport network
Ceremony area and sponsor village in the centre of the resort -
Promotion of snow sports for young people
Support from the Swiss Confederation, the Canton of Valais, the Municipality of Crans-Montana, the CMA ski lift company and the Crans-Montana Hotel Association
PASSION & EMOTION, two keywords for the 2027 FIS Ski World Championships
Benefits for FIS and Snow Sports
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Swiss quality, precision and mentality will highlight the excellent organisation of this FIS flagship event.
Guaranteed enthusiasm from the Swiss population for their national sport. The World Championships will be a memorable experience for spectators of all ages and backgrounds, and will have a global impact.
The event in a country that is at the heart of the ski industry will generate an improved economy, increased sales and the development of new markets. -
The enormous interest from the Swiss population and the Swiss team opens up huge marketing potential for the FIS and ensures above-average television and social media audiences.
Crans-Montana’s location, in the heart of the Alps, means that a very large audience of people interested in winter sports will be able to travel to the World Championships without disproportionate costs. -
Investment in new approaches for spectators, optimisation of logistical solutions and use of eco-responsible resources.
A large amount of training facilities in renowned resorts, which include Crans-Montana itself, Zermatt, Saas-Fee, Verbier and Veysonnaz, can be used by participating nations even before the World Championships.
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A sustainable Project
With a particular emphasis on sustainability, Crans-Montana 2027 will have a state-of-the-art finish stadium, the cornerstone of a district that will be completely redeveloped to become a modern hub of activity for the resort. The Barzettes area promises to welcome the athletes and their entourage, as well as spectators, in the most modern surroundings.
IMPACTFUL INFRASTRUCTURE
The area around the new finish stadium and the lower station of the Violettes gondola will be completely redesigned to modify the flow of skiers and meet requirements for the competitions. The project - which includes the construction of a new large capacity underground car park (684 spaces) and a hotel complex - is already well advanced, and the first steps are underway. The new finish stadium building will meet all FIS demands, with different areas for team managers’ meetings, the media and the organisers.
TWO PISTES, ONE FINISH STADIUM
Crans-Montana offers an attractive piste concept. As was the case for the World Championships in 1987 and the World Cup races (since 1977), the spectacular Nationale and Mont Lachaux pistes will share the same finish stadium for the 2027 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships
The Nationale Piste
The Nationale piste will host the men’s events (DH, SG, GS, AC), as well as the women’s giant. This course, 3,670 m long with a vertical drop of 981 m, is known for its selective aspect and was presented at the 1987 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships. The piste was also completely redesigned in 2007, and was used in 2008 and 2010 for the Women’s World Cup and in 2012 for the Men’s World Cup. Since then it has been regularly updated. In 2021, the top of the course was given a facelift, allowing it to be prepared according to the highest international standards. The men’s downhill promises to be one of the longest on the circuit, lasting well over two minutes.
The Mont lachaux piste
The Mont Lachaux piste will host the women’s events (DH, SG, SL, AC), as well as the men’s slalom, parallel and Team Event (ATE) races. This course already become famous for its selective and technically difficult nature in the 1987 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships. The course was completely remodelled in 2010, and is used every year for the Women’s World Cup, mainly for speed races. Its reputation remains the same. The lower part of the course, where the slaloms are held, is particularly popular with the athletes because of its complexity, and with the public because they can follow the whole course from the stands.
ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITMENT
In Crans-Montana, sustainable development has been an integral part of the landscape for many years. The Crans-Montana 2027 strategy comprises 3 programmes and 10 directives. These include renovation and construction, water, energy, food, waste management, biodiversity, traffic, transport, social commitment and local economic development. Sustainability at the 2027 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships will be consistent with the actions of the Swiss Confederation, the Canton of Valais Agenda 2030, and the municipality of Crans-Montana.
