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With 142 days remaining until the opening ceremony, the official FIS Final Inspection for the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships 2009 in Val d'Isere took place on Tuesday and Wednesday, 9th-10th September.

During a day of competition site inspections followed by an all-day review session, a large group led by FIS President Gian Franco Kasper and Secretary General Sarah Lewis that also included FIS professionals and representatives of the FIS TV partner European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and its marketing partner APF reviewed the status of event organization for the fourth FIS Alpine World Ski Championships ever held in France. On behalf of the organizing committee, presided over by Val d'Isere Mayor Marc Bauer, Jean Luc Fabre, Director General guided discussion of the details of current preparations in all areas of the event, from sports organization to marketing and promotion to security, transport, accommodation and accreditation.

"It is clear to us that the organizing committee has put in enormous efforts and we were pleased to see the high level of their preparation in all areas. After the crisis year of 2007, with several structural and organizational changes, we now have a very motivated organizing team with substantial expertise and highly experienced people. We at FIS are 100% sure that it will be an excellent event that will serve to promote the sport of skiing worldwide, from exciting competitions on excellent courses to all-round celebration of our sport," commented FIS President Kasper after the 7-hour meeting. "Clearly there is still much to do, such as completing the Main Press Center construction, but with four months remaining, we are extremely optimistic that we will see truly extraordinary championships here in Val d'Isere." Watch an interview with FIS President here.

Sarah Lewis added: "I can speak for all the FIS professionals in saying that we are very positively attuned to see the great evolution of the work here. We have supported the team here through all the ups and downs in the last year and the organizing committee will have our full confidence and assistance until the last day of the championships in February 2009."

The FIS Alpine World Ski Championships will take place from 2nd-15th February 2009. The event will be broadcast live by at least 25 TV stations and will be watched by tens of millions of TV viewers daily. The key pillars of the championships include the face-to-face concept, or the two racing slopes directly opposite each other; great consideration for the environment; a winter festival; and for the first time, free access and transportation to all visitors to the competitions and side events. The Val d'Isere 2009 organizing committee, supported by regional and provincial governments, is launching a unique concept of an online invitation that allows the spectators to also travel to Val d'Isere for free by public transportation from within the region. The invitation will be launched in the area of Savoie by Jean-Claude Killy, one the event's ambassadors, on 13th September. The organizers expect 200'000 total on-site spectators during the 13 days of competitions.

(Source: FIS)