Oberhofen (SUI), 10th June, 2009 - The International Ski Federation (FIS) is pleased to announce that it has signed an agreement with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) concerning the broadcast rights (TV and radio) to the 2010 and 2012 FIS Ski Flying World Championships. The 2010 Championships will be held in Planica (SLO) from 19th to 21st March while the 2012 Championships take place in Vikersund (NOR) from 17th to 19th February.
The agreement guarantees that viewers in countries including Germany, Poland, Austria, Russia, Norway, Czech Republic, Finland and Slovenia will be able to watch these championships on free-to-air channels while a Pan-European audience will enjoy watching the championships on Eurosport. This concept provides the event with widest possible exposure.
The FIS Ski Flying World Championships have been staged since 1972, with the 2010 championships representing the 21st edition. Each championship awards medals and the FIS world champion title in an individual and a team event. There are just five Ski Flying hills in the world today, the Planica hill being the largest. The 2008 FIS Ski Flying World Championships in Oberstdorf (GER) had a global TV audience of 35 million and saw more than 70’000 on-site spectators in the course of the three day event.
FIS President Gian Franco Kasper expressed his satisfaction: "We are pleased to expand our long-term partnership with the EBU to integrate the FIS Ski Flying World Championships. The EBU has been a loyal supporter of ski sports for decades and this agreement shows the continuing strength of our relationship.”
EBU Director General Jean Réveillon said: “The FIS Ski Flying World Championships are a high profile, important event in-between the FIS Nordic and Alpine World Ski Championships. We look forward to bringing this spectacular non-Olympic sport to millions of viewers across Europe and around the world and to working closely with FIS on this exciting project.”
About FIS
Founded in 1924 during the first Olympic Games in Chamonix, France, the International Ski Federation (FIS) aims to promote the sport of skiing and snowboarding and directs the development of all ski and snowboarding activities world-wide. It administers the Olympic disciplines of Alpine Skiing, Cross-Country Skiing, Ski Jumping, Nordic Combined, Freestyle Skiing and Snowboarding, including setting the international competition rules. With the help of its 110 member nations (one currently suspended), FIS stages more than 6’000 ski and snowboard competitions annually. FIS also makes recommendations for recreational skiing and snowboarding in the interest of all and promotes play in the snow as a healthy leisure activity for children and the youth. For more information, please visit www.fis-ski.com.
About EBU
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) is the largest association of national broadcasters in the world (75 active Members, 43 associate Members). The EBU helps public service broadcasters to deliver unique high quality programming to their audiences. It offers Members technical, operational and legal services, and coordinates a growing supply of quality content for radio, television and new platforms. The Eurovision and Euroradio networks, operated by the EBU, carry daily exchanges of programs, music, sports events and news between Members, and other media players. More on: www.ebu.ch and www.eurovision.net
For further information, please contact:
For FIS, Niklas Carlsson, FIS Event and Sponsorship Manager, on mobile +41 79 682 2042 or e-mail carlsson@fisski.com
For EBU/ Eurovision, Ms Michelle Roverelli, EBU Senior Communications Officer, on tel. +41 22 717 2204, mobile: +41 79 647 1724 or e-mail roverelli@ebu.ch
