Statement on the decision of the Cantonal Building Commission (KBK) Valais: The World Cup races in Zermatt and Cervinia are not in danger!
cr: Gabriel Perrren
The Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the Matterhorn Cervino Speed Openings welcomes the decision of the Cantonal Building Commission (KBK) to stop work outside the perimeter of the homologated ski area on Swiss territory. An appeal will not be lodged. The pairing of the "Gran Becca" has been completed on the Swiss side in the skiing zone and is ready for racing. The races are in no way in danger and the training sessions planned in the run-up to the World Cup races will start as scheduled from next Sunday.
In its decision, the Cantonal Construction Commission refers to work allegedly carried out outside the perimeter of the homologated ski area on Swiss territory. The local organising committee remains convinced that no work was carried out outside the skiing zone. Since the work within the skiing zone has been completed, the decision of the cantonal building commission (KBK) only has a legal warning effect.
As the local organising committee has always emphasised in recent days, the course of the track has been adjusted several times over the last three years along the entire route. The World Cup course is located on the Swiss side within the skiing zone. It goes without saying that all the necessary permits have been obtained from the authorities and federations in both countries to hold these races.
The local organising committee does not know the exact content of the complaint as it is not a party. By looking at the decision, we had to realise that there are wrong assumptions in the facts of the case. The plaintiffs, namely the associations Pro Natura, WWF Switzerland and Mountain Wilderness, accuse the local organising committee of using technical snowmaking on the Swiss side of the glacier. This is simply false. The same goes for the claim that the ski slope would be outside the skiing zone.
Franz Julen, president of the local organising committee, says: "We remain convinced that everything is legal. The preparation of the race course has been completed on the Swiss side in the skiing zone and is ready for racing. Consequently, races are not in danger. We have nothing to hide and in the last few days we have always signalled our willingness to let the authorities have a look at the situation on site. The local organising committee hopes that this site inspection will take place as soon as possible so that there is clarity."
The training sessions planned in the run-up to the World Cup races will commence as scheduled from next Sunday. These practices will take place on existing tourist slopes that are not affected by the current zoning discussions.
Since the first hours of this visionary project, the local organising committee has been confronted with multiple challenges. Franz Julen says: "We will also master this challenge. The entire organising committee will continue to work flat out to realise this innovative and unique project."
As this is an ongoing procedure, the local organising committee will not provide any information on legal issues beyond this statement. For all other questions in connection with the Matterhorn Cervino Speed Opening, please refer to the media contacts below.
Media contact Switzerland
Matterhorn Cervino Speed Opening
Media Office
David Taugwalder
Email: media@speedopening.com
Mobile: +41(0)79 847 39 89
Media contact Italy
Matterhorn Cervino Speed Opening
Media Office
Andrea Chiericato
Email: media@speedopening.com
Mobile: +39 339 865 49 4