St. Moritz should once again become a center of international ski jumping. A new Olympic ski jump and three smaller ski jumps will enable training camps and international competitions up to World Cups from autumn 2015. Of the project costs of 11.5 million francs, the municipality of St. Moritz is to cover 8.2 million — voters will decide on November 24.
“If we still want to applaud ski jumping medals even after my career, we need a center again where young talent and the elite can train on snow in their own country,” said Simon Ammann at an orientation meeting of the municipality of St. Moritz on Tuesday. “Reliable snow and weak winds make St. Moritz the ideal location for a ski jumping facility. There is hardly any other place where you can jump on snow from the beginning of November to the end of March.” The old Olympic ski jump was closed at the end of 2006.
At the previous location, a new “Hillsize 106” normal hill for training and competitions, a new “Hillsize 67” training hill and renovated youth ski jumps over 47 and 17 meters are now to be built. “Our project uses as much of the existing plant as possible. Only what is necessary is rebuilt,” explains Florio Motti, President of the ski jumping commission of the municipality of St. Moritz. “National and international teams have already expressed their hope that they will soon be able to jump again in St. Moritz.”
Tourist effects
If a ski jump is also to have tourist effects, it must generate publicity about international competitions. The initiators have therefore set themselves the goal of holding a World Cup event in early winter. “World Cup ski jumping is watched by about the same number of people on television as alpine races. A World Cup in November would therefore be an important source of worldwide publicity at the start of the St. Moritz winter season,” states Richard Diller, President of the St. Moritz Spa and Tourist Association. “Sport has always been a core competency of the Engadin.”
“Competitions on the new ski jump show the world top-class sport in our incomparable landscape. That helps our tourism.” Of course, there has not yet been a commitment for a World Cup before construction begins, but the chairman of the responsible FIS Calendar Commission, Mag. Paul Ganzenhuber, is optimistic: “St. Moritz has great organizational know-how and a very good location with guaranteed snow. The location is ideal for a World Cup in early winter.”
Importance for young talent
St. Moritzer Berni Schödler, Simon Ammann's long-time coach and now head of discipline for ski jumping at Swiss-Ski, is also hoping for a “yes” from St. Moritzer: “The planned facility is a reasonable compromise between what is desirable and financially viable and an important step into the future of Swiss ski jumping. It would very quickly become one of the most important international training locations again.”
In addition to the elite, young people from Grisons and all over Switzerland are also counting on a “yes” from St. Moritz: “We miss the St. Moritz Olympic Ski Jump. We need a Swiss training facility for young jumpers of all ages and levels of strength,” says the young St. Moritz elite jumper Marco Grigoli with conviction. “If the people of St. Moritz were to say 'no', we would also lose the small jumps for the students.”
The total costs for the four ski jumps, a chairlift, a company building and a court of justice are estimated at 11.5 million francs. After deducting federal and cantonal support, the municipality's share of costs amounts to 8.2 million francs.
If snow conditions are good, the company bears its own costs; in a very bad winter, the municipality would have to reckon with an operating deficit of a maximum of 60,000 francs. The decision on the project will be taken in the municipal referendum on November 24.
infos
Florio Motti, President of the ski jumping commission for the municipality of St. Moritz
f.motti@chiavi-architektur.ch
079 354 99 16