Press release, FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Levi
15.11.2009, release free

World Cup Levi 2009 was a success, the organizer thanks all the 458 volunteers

General Secretary of the Levi World Cup Mikko Saarinen is pleased after the race weekend. The goal of 20 000 spectators should be reached: Saturday’s women’s race had a record audience of over 9000 spectators.
Sunday’s audience was slightly smaller than Saturday’s due to the lack of top Finnish skiers.

“The overall performance of Tanja and other Finnish women skiers was the highlight of the entire weekend. Tanja is the face of the Levi competition and we are pleased for her success”, Saarinen states.

The number of stakeholders proves the attractiveness of this event. “There has been lot of interest towards the event despite today’s challenging financial situation. With the help of our sponsors we’ve been able to secure the financing of the event and this gives hope for the future as well”, Saarinen says.

The Levi Black slope was in an excellent condition already well before the World Cup race and all the preparations went well.
“Everything went as planned! The response has been positive and I can be very pleased that we are on the right path.”

However, success doesn’t come for free. The organization is working for this event almost for the whole year, but the 458 voluntary workers take on the practical side during the race weekend.
“This event wouldn’t happen without their effort and for that we thank them”, Saarinen says gratefully.

Chairman of the organizing committee Jouni Palosaari praised the volunteers as well. “The roles in our organization have been established and it is reflected as fluent performance”, Palosaari concludes.

Veteran reporter Lang: “Levi, don’t hesitate to be bold and unique!”

It is hard to find more convincing source for response about alpine skiing than the Swiss reporter Patrick Lang. Lang, who tours the alpine skiing races around the world, also was involved with promoting Levi as the venue for the World Cup in 2003. He grades the event organizing in Levi to be of high quality. “In whole, the organizing is great and has been that since the beginning. The eagerness and enthusiasm of the organizers can be seen.”

Lang knows what he’s talking about. His father, reporter Serge Lang, founded the entire alpine skiing World Cup in 1967. Patrick is following his footsteps, just like Patricks children Manuéle and Philippe Lang are following his. He knows what the media needs and evaluates the working conditions of the media according to that.

“Media facilities are of high quality: two media centers, fast online connections and smooth accreditation”, he lists.

Lang also talked on behalf of the racers and told that they are very pleased with the racing conditions. In addition he thought that the event organization has worked well during the entire weekend. The uniqueness of the Finland and Lapland was also highlighted by Lang.

“Be boldly unique and bring forward more of the special features that you can offer. A reindeer and a campfire is considered to be familiar here, but for us foreigners they are exotic”, Lang encourages the event organizers.

The athletes and the magic of Lapland bring the crowds

The Levi World Cup has established it’s place in the calendars of the alpine skiing fans. Visitors even from far away arrive to cheer the world’s best alpine skiers on, and to witness the exotic Lapland. “This is my fourth time at Levi and I have attended many other alpine races as well”, Bettina from Switzerland tells.

She got to know Finnish Kalle Palander fans in 2004 and has visited Finland several times since then.
“Levi World Cup is a very special event for me. Finland is a wonderful country, it’s so quiet here and the people are so joyful. In Lapland it’s so beautiful when the trees are white of snow”, Bettina praises the Finnish nature and promises to come back next year.

www.worldcuplevi.com

World Cup Levi media services:
JKPROMO OY, Annankatu 29 A 5, 00100 Helsinki, www.jkpromo.com
Chief of Media Jaakko Kantola, puh. +358 40 550 1283, email: jaakko.kantola@jkpromo.com
Media coordinator Jussi Väätäinen, puh. +358 45 120 9920, email: jussi.vaatainen@jkpromo.com