Ski World Cup in Kitzbuehel Opening

The museum has chosen the “Founding of the Ski World Cup” theme for their special exhibition for the ski winter of 2015/16. Many people involved in the ski circuit heard the word “World Cup” for the first time 50 years ago in January. The opening ceremony took place on Friday, 4^th December. Olga Pall-Scartezzini, Hias Leitner, Ernst Hinterseer, Fritz Huber and many other personalities attended. After the term „World Cup“ was used in 1966 for the first time on the Hahnenkamm Downhill by sports journalist, Serge Lang, in association with Alpine ski sport, it became a fixture in the very same year. During the World Championships in the summer of 1966 in Portillo, Chille, FIS President, Marc Hodler, announced the “World Cup” for the following winter of 1967, which marked the birth of an incredible success story. Kitzbühel Museum is housed in the “Stadturm - City Tower” in the southeast outskirts of the historic town centre. In the self-same spot where the World Cup will be at home in the coming months. It may or may not be a coincidence that it is also the former site of the offices of Kitzbühel Ski Club, organizers of the Hahnenkamm Races. Mayor Klaus Winkler was proud to open the exhibition and Ski Club President Michael Huber’s eyes lit up, “It is incredible how interesting the history of the World Cup is. Just how many perspectives there are”. Museum Director, Wido Sieberer, has made every effort to comprehensively explore the founding of the World Cup. The famous crystal globes, which are presented to the overall World Cup winners in the individual disciplines, are particularly noticeable in their display cabinet. These are the original trophies for 2017, which are on loan to Kitzbühel after the International Ski Federation (FIS) officially granted approval for their display. The names of all overall winners are on the wall behind.  Jean-Claude Killy and Nancy Green won the first trophies in 1967. Back then, Rudi Sailer and Michael Schwaiger participated from the ranks of Kitzbühel. One of the most valuable exhibits of the "World Cup Exhibition" is the original protocol. Written in French, it lists the venues for the men and women’s races in the Downhill, Slalom and Giant Slalom disciplines, as well as the principles of the World Cup and points allocation system.