Alpine Skiing World Championships The public finally at the rendezvous in Courchevel after a lackluster first week

The men's downhill, the flagship event of the 2023 Alpine Skiing World Championships, brought together nearly 13,000 people in Courchevel on Sunday February 12 A "success" according to the organizers, after a rather disappointing first day in terms of attendance.

A few minutes before the start of the race, a long queue winds its way along the sidewalks of Courchevel on this Sunday, February 12 Some passers-by are still looking, at the auction, for places to attend the men's downhill – one of the queen disciplines of alpine skiing – of these World Championships.

The sun, which has been setting for ten days on the Tarentaise, warms the atmosphere a little more in the crowded stands Yoann, armed with his French flag, found himself there a little by chance: "We offered two tickets.

I didn't hesitate to come, I've never attended a ski competition", explains this thirty-year-old from Aix-en-Provence, passing through the Savoyard resort for a weekend a little further, in the middle of the crowd, Loïc did not have the same luck.

He had to buy his tickets But for this Haut-Savoyard, it was out of the question to miss "the most important moment" of these Worlds: "It's a show that we are not used to seeing, it's been a long time since we organized a World Championship.

We are next door, it's Sunday, the weather is nice The conditions were ideal to come", he explains.

Loïc does not want to talk too much about the price of tickets, but mentions "more than 150 euros" paid to come and support, with his partner and his two children, Johan Clarey, Nils Allegre and the other Tricolores A fairly high price, while some stages of the Ski World Cup are accessible for free.

Just like the last World Championships organized in France, in Val d'Isère, in 2009 "Our financial objectives will be met" "The last World Championships are paid for.

When you have a World Championship in France, it's a chance, it's rare It's very expensive to organize and you have to give value to this event: it's not free to welcome 600 athletes and to offer entertainment every day" , justifies Céline Prevost, ticketing manager.

There is no reason that we do not pay to see an Alexis Pinturault when we are ready to spend incredible sums to go see a Kylian Mbappé Céline Prevost, ticketing manager.

This Sunday, visitors had to pay 60 euros for a single place Some reduced rates are still in place and prices drop by 10 euros for events during the week.

Céline Prevost explains that these fixed prices help to contribute to the expenses of the organization: "As a net margin, we fall back into our costs Our financial objectives will be met.

We set up stands on ground that is not movable, there is a whole device behind, we had to set up these stands in October before the snow arrived It costs money.

"And then, there is no reason that we do not pay to see an Alexis Pinturault when we are ready to spend incredible sums to go see a Kylian Mbappé What Pinturault does is no less valuable than what other athletes do,” adds the manager.

Difficult beginnings? This Sunday, the 2,900 seats in the Courchevel grandstand found takers This was not the case during the first events, which were less popular with the general public.

Many seats remained empty, in particular, during the women's combined, the first event of these Worlds, on Monday February 6 Since the start of the competition, the organization The number of visitors is estimated at 58,000, both in the stands and in the finish line, but also in the fan-zones set up in the villages, and at 13,000 for this Sunday alone.

A figure far, by way of comparison, from the crowds observed during the stages in Kitzbühel, temple of alpine skiing, where nearly 50,000 people can gather each day in the Austrian finish area "The culture of skiing is not the same in France as in Switzerland or Austria", specifies, rightly, the manager.

Still, some events next week such as the ladies' slalom or the ladies' giant only reach, for the moment, between 50 and 60% fill rate The organization does not plan to make "flash sales", out of respect for visitors who have paid their full price ticket.

But, it is counting in particular on a Pinturault effect (medal winner twice since the start of the competition) as well as the start of holidays for foreign tourists and Parisians "We are very happy.

We are beyond what we had planned in terms of ticketing And, according to forecasts, we are going to have even higher figures in the second week", is satisfied Céline Prevost.

A success for the IOC President This feeling of success was shared this Sunday by a distinguished guest: Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), visiting the mixed zone "It's an extraordinary performance.

All the conditions are perfect Even the weather is in favor of the organizers.

It's a great display for the sport of winter here in Courchevel and Méribel", he rejoiced The support of the public unfortunately did not play in favor of the Blues, to the great displeasure of Maxence Muzaton, best Frenchman of the day: "We are going relatively quickly in the descent, I could not hear the public, he explained in the mixed zone.

But when I saw 6 on arrival, I took a moment to savor that The World Championships are every two years.

There it is at home Maybe I won't experience that again in my athletic career.

You have to savor these moments with the public, it's rare and it's great " A public which should again be present in large numbers next weekend: after having sold all the places in the men's slalom, scheduled for Sunday February 19 , I'.