World Arrives in Utah
PARK CITY, UT (Jan. 28, 2017) - With a backdrop of pillowy white snow blanketing the Wasatch Mountains, the world is arriving in Utah for the biggest international event in the state since the 2002 Olympic Winter Games. This week the USANA FIS Nordic Junior World Championships and U23 Cross Country World Championships take place in Utah with over 500 athletes from nearly 40 nations expected to take part on the Olympic venues at the Soldier Hollow Nordic Center near Midway and the Utah Olympic Park in Park City.
The annual World Championships kickoff on Monday, Jan 30 and continue daily through Sunday, Feb. 5 with daily championship events in cross country, nordic combined and ski jumping. The Junior World Championships involved athletes up to 20 years old, with the U23 Championships for skiers 21-23.
The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) was awarded the event by the International Ski Federation in June, 2015. It is the first time it has been in the USA since 1986 in Lake Placid. It is being organized jointly by the USSA together with the Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation. Hundreds of volunteers will work the two venues for the week of the Championships. The event is expected to bring over 1,500 athletes, coaches, support personnel and family members.
Fans around the world will also be able to follow the action live. A partnership between the USSA, Central Cross Country, USA Nordic and the National Nordic Foundation will be providing live streaming of all events at both venues. It's the first time the entire Junior World Championships has been broadcast live.
Teams from around the world have been arriving in Utah over the past week, jumping at the Utah Olympic Park and skiing at Soldier Hollow. Over the last few days, hundreds of cross country skiers have been enjoying ideal winter ski conditions on the Olympic tracks. A veritable small city of waxing trailers has been a hotbed of activity. At the Utah Olympic Park ski jumps, flags of participating nations glittered in the sunlight as staff attached the final sponsor boards around the HS100 meter hill finish area.
Snow has blanketed the trails at the Soldier Hollow Nordic Center. (U.S. Ski Team - Tom Kelly)
U.S. ski jumpers joined athletes from over a dozen nations in a final FIS Cup tuneup in Eau Claire, WI Friday and Saturday before getting on airplanes Sunday for the trip to Utah.
The move to bring the event to Utah was a collaborative effort between the USSA, Utah Sports Commission and the venues. It's the first time the Junior World Championships has taken place at an Olympic venue since the 1997 event was held in Canmore, AB, site of the 1988 Olympics.
In addition to the competitions set for the Olympic venues, ceremonies will take place at Midway's Zermatt and Homestead resorts. The opening ceremony on Monday, Jan. 30 at 7:00 p.m. will be held at Zermatt, as will the Sunday, Feb. 5 closing. Medals ceremonies will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 1 and Friday, Feb. 3 at the Midway Ice Castle at the Homestead. A special 2002 celebration and medals ceremony is also scheduled Friday evening at the Utah Olympic Park.
The World Championships are one of a host of major international events in Utah this winter. A week ago a top on the USSA's Toyota U.S. Grand Prix came to Solitude Mountain Resort in Big Cottonwood Canyon. This week, Feb. 2-4, the top freestyle skiers in the world will be at Deer Valley Resort for the Visa Freestyle International.
For more information on the Championships, check the Utah 2017 website, or follow #Utah2017 on social media.
