Olympic excitement at the heart of the 46th Forum Nordicum in Val di Fiemme

The 46th Forum Nordicum, the annual gathering of journalists and media representatives covering Nordic skiing, took place in Val di Fiemme from 16–19 September and centered on anticipation for the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games.

The meeting concluded alongside the FIS Nordic Summer Festival, which hosts the Nordic Combined and Ski Jumping Summer Grand Prix and Roller Ski World Cup competitions. A key feature was FIS Day, where the Race Directors of all three Nordic disciplines and FIS Communications Director Bruno Sassi shared updates on sport development, media strategy, and communication plans.

Nordic Combined Race Director Lasse Ottesen reviewed a successful previous season highlighted by the women’s large hill premiere and the World Championships in Trondheim. He reported strong reception for “The Overlooked,” Nordic Combined’s behind-the-scenes documentary series, and announced equal overall prize money for men and women starting in the 2025/26 season. Ottesen also emphasized sustainability initiatives such as Viessmann’s “Combined for Change,” and revealed that men’s Ski Flying will premiere in Kulm (AUT).

Cross-Country Race Director Michal Lamplot outlined 2025/26 objectives focused on stronger event creation. He marked the 20th anniversary of the Tour de Ski and introduced a new special format—heat mass start—along with minor calendar adjustments.

Ski Jumping Race Director Sandro Pertile discussed equipment updates and ongoing calendar planning, including the women’s Ski Flying premiere scheduled for Planica (SLO).

Looking ahead to Milano-Cortina 2026, all three Race Directors described their Olympic preparations. Forum participants were also able to visit Olympic venues, including the newly built Ski Jumping hills in Predazzo and the Cross-Country stadium in Tesero.