Ski World Cup 2027: Bidbook triggers discord

Created: 01/19/2022, 07:00

By: Andreas Seiler

Polarized: the Hinterschwepfinger study with a new congress building (in the background on the right).

This graphic can also be found in the bid book.

© Hinterschwepfinger

The application book for hosting the Ski World Championships 2027 in Garmisch-Partenkirchen caused amazement and criticism: Because the paper shows graphics of a concept study that envisages a new congress center building.

The sensitive topic should first be dealt with in a public dialogue - with an open outcome, as is emphasized.

Garmisch-Partenkirchen

– At the end of May this year, a far-reaching decision will be made in Vilamoura, Portugal: the International Ski Federation (FIS) will then decide who will be awarded the 2027 Alpine World Ski Championships.

A winter sports event that not only promises international attention, but also strong economic impulses and investments.

As reported, Garmisch-Partenkirchen has once again thrown its hat in the ring to host the competitions for the third time after 1978 and 2011.

Paper describes alignment concept

The heart of the candidacy – the official applicant is the German Ski Association together with the market town and the ski club of Garmisch – is the so-called bid book. The alignment concept is described in detail in the more than 100-page paper that has already been submitted. It starts with the sports facilities and the infrastructure and ends with the transport connections and the hotel landscape, to name just a few examples. As is well known, Garmisch-Partenkirchen relies on a “green” World Ski Championships, wants to score with sustainability and only minimal interference with nature. The message: The well-known winter sports resort has the best prerequisites and has the necessary know-how to handle such a major event.

But the bid book, which the local councilors are said to have only recently received, is causing dissonance.

Because it advertises a newly planned congress center as a "milestone", which is to serve as a media center - with space for up to 1700 participants.

What annoys some: Two graphics from the controversial Hinterschwepfinger study were used for illustration.

On behalf of GaPa Tourismus, the project developer had developed a new building design for the aging congress center.

The crux of the matter: In the difficult matter – the long-running congress center is polarizing and making waves emotionally – there is still no decision at all.

The new building is just one option.

A refurbishment or a solution somewhere in between would also be conceivable.

"The signal is devastating"

"The signal is devastating," says Green municipal councilor Dr. Rainer Steinbrecher. "That thwarts the open-ended dialogue." This gives the impression that the die has long been cast and that the planned civil dialogue only has the character of an alibi. "I find that very problematic," summarizes Steinbrecher. As a reminder: When it comes to the Kongresshaus question, the will of the people should crystallize in the course of a complex participation process. A referendum in the autumn is intended to provide final clarity as to where the journey is headed.

FDP man Martin Sielmann takes the same line as Steinbrecher.

"This will not make the World Ski Championships more popular locally," he warns.

In a motion, the Liberal demands that the municipal council reject a specification in the bid book in the matter of the Kongresshaus.

"The latter has neither decided to build a new congress center, and certainly not provided the necessary funds for this," says Sielmann.

But there is also a completely different point of view.

Ski World Cup representative Peter Fischer cannot understand the excitement.

"This is just an example image," he emphasizes - and no statement.

The bid committee does not interfere in the Kongresshaus question.

"That's not our job." Rather, it's about giving the municipality the chance to get public subsidies - regardless of whether it ends up being a new building or a renovation.

Similar tones come from the town hall: "We absolutely do not believe that the graphic shown in the bid book gives the wrong impression, but can be seen as one of many design options for the future congress center," says spokeswoman Silvia Kaufer-Schropp.

CSU councilor Mike Bräu, who is particularly committed to bringing the Ski World Championships 2027 to his hometown, also sees the whole thing calmly: "You have to do something in it." Of course, everything is still open.

He personally pleads for a smaller new building, as it is more economical to operate.

Bräu cannot gain anything from the Sielmann application.

This one just steals time.