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29 December 2024

Skiing Accidents At Bormio Raise Safety Concerns For Upcoming Olympics

Multiple serious crashes during World Cup trials have triggered intense debates about course safety and Olympic readiness.

Recent accidents at the Bormio World Cup skiing events have raised serious concerns about safety protocols and the preparation of the slopes, particularly with the 2026 Olympics on the horizon. French skier Cyprien Sarrazin and Italian skier Pietro Zazzi both suffered severe injuries during training, prompting urgent calls for reevaluated safety standards.

On December 29, 2023, Sarrazin was airlifted to Sondalo hospital after sustaining cranial injuries from a crash during downhill training. The 30-year-old, who had previously won on the Stelvio course, underwent surgery to treat a subdural hematoma. "Cyprien Sarrazin is awake and conscious following his operation on Friday evening at the Sondalo hospital near Bormio," the French ski federation reported.

Sarrazin's crash occurred as he was leading his second training run on the notoriously difficult Stelvio slope with promising speed when he hit a bump, lost control, and was thrown from his skis, sliding long down the mountain and colliding with safety netting.

Zazzi was another casualty from the same day, suffering extensive injuries including broken tibia and fibula. He was also airlifted to receive emergency medical treatment. The accidents have refocused attention on the preparation of the slopes at Bormio, which is often described as one of the most challenging on the circuit.

During the downhill training on the same day as Sarrazin's accident, the conditions were already under scrutiny. His teammate, Nils Allegre, expressed discontent with the slope’s maintenance, arguing, “They don’t know how to prepare a course. They’ve been preparing courses for 40 years and they don’t know how to do anything other than prepare dangerous slopes.” This sentiment sparked outrage among the ski community, questioning the suitability of the location to host events as significant as the Winter Olympics.

Race director Markus Waldner defended the preparations stating, "The organisers do their best to prepare the slopes as well as possible and (the Stelvio) was prepared as it is every year," noting how weather conditions, such as high winds, had detrimentally affected snow consistency. This advanced degradation of the slope heightened risks impacting athletes.

Following Sarrazin and Zazzi's incidents, Swiss skier Gino Caviezel also faced dire circumstances during the Super-G event at Bormio, collapsing early in his run and requiring hospitalization. His crash disrupted the race, causing the event to be paused for nearly 20 minutes as emergency responders tended to him on-site.

Caviezel’s injury, occurring just moments after the race commenced, marks the third severe skiing incident over the weekend, leading many to fear for the safety of athletes during upcoming competitions. It remains uncertain how serious his injury is as more information awaits following his evaluation.

The frequency and severity of these accidents led to important discussions among skiers and organizers alike. Allegre, adamant about holding Bormio accountable, boldly stated, “Maybe it's not something everyone agrees with... but they don't deserve to have the Olympic Games here.” Such criticisms point to the need for immediate reassessment of the course and its readiness for upcoming Olympic events.

Despite Lindner’s defenses, the pressure is mounting on event organizers to guarantee athlete safety, particularly as equipment advancements have led to competitors skiing at unprecedented speeds. The dangers posed by these circumstances were exemplified when Waldner suggested, "The problem is...there’s no margin left," alluding to the growing need for protective measures to keep the athletes safe.

The backdrop of these accidents presents stark concerns for the future of the World Cup skiing events planned at Bormio, underlining the need for urgent attention before the Olympics. The past week’s unfortunate events not only bring athletes’ wellbeing to the forefront but also challenge the integrity of host sites set to welcome competing nations.

While Bormio continues grappling with the fallout from these incidents, Sarrazin, Zazzi, and Caviezel remain uppermost in the minds of skiing fans around the world, hopeful for their swift recoveries and stringent safety reforms moving forward as they prepare for the Olympic spotlight.