OREANDA-NEWS. January 05, 2011. The Olympic courses for alpine skiing disciplines are open at one of the key venues of the Olympic Games in Sochi-2014, the new alpine centre Rosa Khutor (Sochi, Krasnaya Polyana). The six courses are open as the part of the completion of the first stage of the resort construction and will welcome the first official races this winter.

The day before the International Ski Federation (FIS) confirmed the approval and issued the certificates of homologation of the following race courses at the alpine centre Rosa Khutor: Downhill (men and ladies), Slalom (men and ladies), Super G (men and ladies). The first test events at the Rosa Khutor – the Russian Cup (February 9 to13) and one of the European Cup series (February 15 to 26) in Alpine skiing in February 2011 will be held at these courses.

Complementary to the courses, all infrastructure necessary for the competitions of such kind is ready at the alpine centre Rosa Khutor – the snowmaking system is installed; the lifts connecting the Lower Base and the plateau Rosa Khutor with the Finish Area as well as the Alpine Complex are in operation; rescue service and avalanche control service are formed. Till mid-February the services and divisions of the Alpine centre will operate in test mode, practicing all possible situations so that the competition itself took place without any failures.

The alpine ski resort Rosa Khutor will be managed jointly with the French Compagnie des Alpes – one of the world’s leaders in resort management. Rosa Khutor LLC and Compagnie des Alpes have reached the corresponding strategic partnership agreement. The first test events at the Rosa Khutor in February 2011 will be held under the direct supervision of the French specialists.

“We are proud that the only certificated for competitions of the Olympic Games, European and World cups level courses in Russia are located at Rosa Khutor”, - said Sergey Bachin, Director General of Rosa Khutor.– “Hosting the first official races of the Olympic cycle we recognize our responsibility and we are confident that the competitors will enjoy both the courses on the slopes of Aibga range and the facilities of the alpine ski resort Rosa Khutor in general and in the future will become our regular guests”.