News

ESPOT, January 20, 2023

From January 20 to 29, the Catalan resort of Espot becomes the headquarters of the FIS Para Alpine Ski World Championships 2023, the world championship of adapted skiing approved by the International Ski Federation, in which 87 skiers from 26 countries will participate. After two days of heavy snowfall, the small village of Espot has been dyed in a postcard white, the perfect setting to kick off the championships with the opening ceremony.

Presided over by the Hble. Councilor of the Presidency of the Generalitat de Catalunya, Laura Vilagrà; the secretary of the Spanish Paralympic Committee, Mr. Miguel Segarra; the director of FGC Turisme, Mr. Toni Sanmartí; and the mayor of Espot Il·lm. Mr. Josep Sebastià, has taken place this afternoon.

In this sense, the mayor of Espot, Ilm. Mr. Josep Sebastià has welcomed the teams, wishing luck to the athletes who from tomorrow will participate in the events of the world championships. Then, the Hble. Councilor of the Presidency of the Generalitat de Catalunya, Laura Vilagrà, added that "Catalonia has been and wants to be a pioneer in the integration of snow sports. We have a firm commitment to social integration through sport, which reinforces the central role of sport as a transformative tool and as a tool for social cohesion". On the other hand, he wished good luck to the athletes and thanked the fact that the Catalan resorts have a high level from the point of view of accessibility, "and enviable conditions, without limitations for anyone".

The Secretary of the Spanish Paralympic Committee, Mr. Miguel Segarra, thanked the FGC and the FIS for organizing these world championships and pointed out that "these championships are a step forward in the inclusion of Paralympic sport. During the next few days, the athletes will show us a great level of demand and effort, we know they do an incredible job and we are very proud of them". He added that "we are working so that very soon we can host the Olympic Games. In Spain we are fighting to be inclusive in all aspects and now is the time to be inclusive in sport".

The first World Cup event to be held, weather permitting, will be the Super Giant in the men's and women's categories, tomorrow, Saturday, January 21, at 10:30 am.

Disciplines and events

During the World Championships, events will be held in the disciplines of slalom, giant slalom, alpine combined, supergiant, downhill and parallel slalom. Up to 87 skiers from 26 countries have traveled to Espot to participate in the events. The Spanish team will be represented by Audrey Pascual and María Martín-Granizo, who will compete in giant slalom and slalom, on January 25 and 27 respectively, weather permitting.

The participating athletes compete in three categories according to the degree of limitation of the activity derived from the disability they suffer, following a system of factors that allows preparing competitions between athletes with different handicaps. All races will be contested in the male and female categories.

Athletes will use equipment adapted to their needs, whether individual skis, adapted skis or orthopedic aids. On the other hand, visually impaired skiers who will compete in any of the championship disciplines will be supported by sighted guides, who will use sound signals to indicate the route they have to follow at all times.

Commitment to adapted sports

FIS Para SnowSports World Championships is an annual competition promoted and approved by the International Ski Federation (FIS). It is a competition adapted to athletes with physical disabilities, such as spinal cord injuries, impaired coordination or amputations and vision problems.

Under the management of FGC Turisme, the Espot resort reinforces season after season its commitment to adapted sport in favor of all those athletes with disabilities who enjoy the snow. The conditions and services offered by both resorts are designed so that everyone can make use of their facilities and make available to skiers and skiers with disabilities all the facilities they may need to enjoy the snow without limitations.