Georgia’s popular ski resorts of Bakuriani and Gudauri have been marked as permanent hosts in the competition calendar of the International Ski and Snowboard Federation, enabling the destinations to host stages of World Cup events running under the body annually.

The Mountain Trails Agency of Georgia on Wednesday said the two locations would be among 11 resorts around the world hosting 19 events of the 2023-2024 FIS Ski Cross World Cup calendar.

Bakuriani will host competitions for mogul, dual mogul and ski cross disciplines, while Gudauri will be the destination for snowboard cross events.

Image: FIS

A FIS release on the calendar said Bakuriani was an “emerging ski destination” and offered a “distinctive setting and a demanding course that showcases the region's natural beauty”.

With its mix of technical sections and high-speed stretches, Bakuriani will test the athletes' adaptability and resilience”, it said.

Georgian Deputy Economy Minister Mariam Kvrivishvili highlighted the new development meant the country had become a permanent host of FIS competitions for the first time in its history. 

Our country has taken a proud spot among many successful and developed ski resorts in France, Switzerland, the United States and Canada [...] This success was determined by two main factors: the first is the very successfully held World Championships - which our country hosted at the beginning of this year - and the second is infrastructural readiness, which the Georgian Government has taken care of over the past years”, Kvrivishvili said.

Bakuriani

2023. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge

She added ski infrastructure of “historic” importance had been set up in Bakuriani over the past two years, including two reservoirs for the artificial snowmaking system, three new cable cars, 11 ski tracks and a 34-kilometre snowmaking system. 

Kvrivishvili said the FIS decision on granting the status to the two Georgian destinations would “significantly contribute” to the strengthening and promotion of mountain ski tourism potential of the country.

Agency Director Irakli Burchuladze noted Georgia had hosted the Freestyle Ski, Snowboard and Freeski World Championships in February and March “at the highest level, with the latest infrastructure and a well-staffed organising team”. 

“We did everything to present Georgia with dignity [by hosting the competition]. We showed our potential and capabilities to the International Ski Federation. It was repeatedly noted by them that we perfectly fulfilled our obligations. That is why we got into the permanent calendar, which is very important both for the development of winter resorts and sports, and for the promotion of Georgia”, Burchuladze said.

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