10 days of World Cups in Cortina d’Ampezzo echoing the cry of sNOw DIFFERENCE: no difference on the snow, for a snow without distinctions. It’s a slogan, certainly, but also a concrete commitment that Fondazione Cortina and the community have taken with the athletes, enthusiasts, and sports lovers who spent the days between January 26th and February 2nd, 2024, in the Ampezzo valley.
The Cortina d’Ampezzo Ski World Cup 2024 opened its doors on Wednesday, January 24th, 2024, with the first day of trials and closed on Sunday, January 28th, 2024, with the concluding Super G of the three-day competition on the Olympia delle Tofane slope.
Five days marked by significant weather variations that, amid wind, sun, and fluctuating temperatures, caused the track to change rapidly under the skis of the 50 competing athletes. Extremely positive feedback came from the athletes themselves and the coaches who, as repeated and demonstrated every year, love the iconic Ampezzo track and appreciate the enormous work done by the entire track team, volunteers, and Alpine Troops to make the “field of play” perfect where the Speed Queens compete for the title of “The Queen of Speed”.
“We are closing an excellent edition of the Cortina Audi FIS Ski World Cup,” said Stefano Longo, Chairman of Fondazione Cortina.
“The first two days, characterized by strong gusts of wind, were not easy. A great job has been done by the healthcare sector, which has ensured the athletes’ safety to the maximum. I must congratulate the entire organization, the volunteers, the Alpine Troops, and the law enforcement agencies who have once again shown passion and professionalism. We are already thinking about 2025, working especially to make the fans and enthusiasts who will come to visit us even more welcome. There were many memorable moments in these three days, I’ll mention two: the tribute to Elena Fanchini, the champion who won here in 2015, and the awarding of Lara Gut-Behrami by Barbara Von Bergen, the Dutch champion who won the Paralympic downhill World Cup last season. This award, in particular, represents the ideal passing of the torch between the women’s World Cup and the Para Alpine Ski World Cup held between January 31st and February 2nd.”
Just as Longo described, without interruption, with excellent work from the entire Fondazione Cortina team and with only one transition afternoon on Sunday, January 28th, 2024, the Cortina d’Ampezzo FIS Para Alpine Ski World Cup began on January 29th, 2024.
A stage of the Para Alpine Ski World Cup for the first time in our territory, organized on the same track, with the same Finish Area, and the same services offered during the previous event.
One day of trials and four days of competition with a Downhill, a Super G, and two special slaloms that saw 47 athletes competing in 3 categories: visual impaired, standing, and sitting, obviously divided between male and female.
A truly important test event in view of the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Games, where most of the Paralympic competitions will take place precisely in Cortina d’Ampezzo, where, during these days of competition and with great appreciation from the athletes, many schools from all over the Veneto region have gathered to cheer on these great alpine skiing performers.
From the words of Michele Di Gallo, General Manager of Fondazione Cortina, the emotion for the realization of this dream is evident, as is the strong desire to fully pursue this path and involve as many young people as possible: “Sport is a powerful means of social inclusion, capable of breaking down barriers and uniting people. The Para Alpine Ski World Cup offers everyone, especially the younger generation, not only the opportunity to witness prestigious sports competitions but also to learn and grow through the shared experience with extraordinary athletes who overcome challenges with courage and determination.”
For a week, sNOw DIFFERENCE in the Ampezzo valley has yielded excellent results, significant public success and participation, and a great desire, at all levels, to face the next challenges with upcoming high-level events.
