[ad_1]
In previous years, around 20,000 overnight stays were counted in Sölden around the World Cup races. A total of 30,000 people attend the events and deliver up to five million euros. This year, however, due to the general situation of the coronavirus, spectators are not allowed to attend the races.
This year, however, it is essential that as many people as possible watch the ski races in front of the screen at home. “The performance of the media is still in the works,” said Tourism Association (TVB) president Oliver Schwarz in an APA conversation. In general, it has an advertising value of eight million euros and 20 million viewers with 150 hours of transmission; Expectations are just as high this year, but TV numbers can only be seen afterward, he admitted.
Sölden in the role of pioneer
Schwarz and Tirol Werbung managing director Florian Phleps described it as painful to celebrate the season opener without an audience. Phleps, however, thought the organizers’ decision was a good one: Sölden even played the pioneering role here. “These races will serve as a model for all the other World Cup seasons this year,” he said.
But according to Sölden tourism experts, it’s not just competition between professionals that is usually on the show. On the one hand, it is the initial spark of winter from a tourist point of view, on the other hand, it is also a prelude to the ski industry. “As a general rule, the event conveys anticipation for snow and sports, sparks the desire to go on vacation, and thus stimulates demand,” Phleps reported. This year, this is more than moderate, especially with Germany’s vertical travel advisory for Tyrol. “The demand is almost nil, unfortunately there are many cancellations,” summarized Schwarz.
Hope for blue skies and good photos
Guests from many countries around the world come to Sölden during the winter season. “17 major markets are served,” Schwarz said. At the beginning of the World Cup, however, the structure of the guests is different: Austrians, Germans, Swiss and Italians are more akin to the World Cup and want to experience this show live, while in the rest of the season, in addition to the main market in Germany, many tourists would travel from Scandinavia or the Benelux countries.
In Sölden, meanwhile, they look forward to good weather with blue skies. So that at least the “beautiful images” awaken the yearning for winter.
200 “special guests” can be there
The start of the World Cup will not be completely without spectators: 200 “special guests” are planned for the start. In addition to the “teams” (athletes and supervisors), “staff” and “media”, they form the four “bubbles” provided by Sölden’s concept of safety and prevention of the coronavirus. Everyone involved, including the runners, is divided into colorful main and secondary bubbles, the so-called snowflakes, to avoid contact with each other. Without a negative CoV test, no one can enter your bladder.
The concept was communicated to the Imst district authority as the competent authority, the state told the APA. This did not require the approval of the district administration. According to the Covid Measures Ordinance, authorization is only required if an “assigned and marked seat” is to be given to more than 250 people. At the opening of the World Cup in Sölden, however, only the 200 guests mentioned are planned.
Mobile lab station for fast test results
In addition, the authorities indicated that the number of people in the areas of “athletes”, “staff” and “media” had also been reduced to a “necessary minimum.”
“Before the race weekend, everyone involved in these three areas will undergo a corona test,” explained those responsible. Starting on October 14, a mobile laboratory station, the so-called “LAB truck”, will be available for rapid test evaluations. The 200 guests, in turn, are registered by name and assigned a fixed seat.
