With a resounding YES, the people of St. Moritz have given the go-ahead for the renovation of an important infrastructure building for the winter sports resort of St. Moritz. Following the YES to the loan template, detailed planning and the building application for a new ski jump complex can be moved forward quickly. The plant is due to go into operation at the end of 2015 — bidding efforts for international competitions will be started immediately.
St. Moritz is returning to the world map of ski jumping: With the new ski jumping area, St. Moritz will once again establish itself as a first-rate training and competition location from the end of 2015. Parallel to the detailed planning and construction of the buildings, bidding efforts for a Ski Jumping World Cup on the new Olympic Ski Jump are also underway. Prior to the vote, senior officials from the International Ski Federation FIS had already made it clear that the association was very interested in regular World Cups in St. Moritz.
The municipality of St. Moritz will contribute around 8 million francs to the estimated total investment costs of 11.5 million francs. 3.4 million will come from the federal and cantonal governments, and private individuals have promised contributions in kind for the construction in a six-figure equivalent value. Construction is scheduled to begin in summer 2014, and the new Olympic ski jump is due to open at the end of 2015. It is then also available for international competitions.
Sport is of particular importance to the Upper Engadin: For locals and guests, it is a central element of the quality of life and thus of the leisure and holiday experience, in summer and winter.
The promoters of a new ski jumping complex are therefore calling on the population of the Upper Engadin to continue investing in modern infrastructure for amateur athletes as well as for young and top athletes. The controversial discussions about ski jumping hills and the training infrastructure for the athletics facility on the polo meadow have shown that the Upper Engadine urgently needs a comprehensive sports concept. Only as part of an overall assessment can sports facilities and events be prioritized and their significance made understandable to the population.
A sports concept must therefore not be limited to a single municipality; it must be regionally designed. The Alpina Ski Club, the Olympic Ski Jump Association and the Ski Jump Commission would like to thank the supporters of the proposal for their great commitment to the ski jumping facilities and sports in Engadin.