“Andorra to win would help the candidacy of the Barcelona Winter Games”

What does his nose say?

– A year ago I said that the candidacy was an illusion. Today I think we have real options. Everyone says it moves between Switzerland and us. Switzerland represents stability, classicism. And we are new mountains, a new country, new ways of doing things … Here the game will be played.

When they applied, they said that they had a big project, but that they lacked office work.

– One thing is very clear: that the candidacy is solid and solvent is a condition sine qua non. And the people of the International Federation (FIS) tell us that ours is the most professional and serious of all. However, this is not a guarantee of anything. You need to win the vote.

There are four candidates and one is eliminated in each round.

– We have moved to every level we could. We have met with people from the FIS, the Andorran Olympic Committee and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have also done their job … I think we will pass the first round, because Germany is the one who has the most difficulty. But I am very concerned about the second, because it can come from a single vote. And I also think that if we get to the last one we will win. Potentially, we have the votes. Now it needs to be true.

What is your strong point?

– That everyone in Andorra has seen that this was good for the country. That we will not spend money, but we will ask for it. I thought there would be a time when all this would go awry and it didn’t. We did a popular race and there were 3,000 people on the street. We have worked very well in terms of rights, sustainability … We have corrected the possible negative arguments. I volunteered at Barcelona 92 ​​and, somehow, I now relive that spirit. The feeling of going all together.

How did they do it? Here, when we talk about the 2030 Games, it’s all about!

– One of the values ​​of this candidacy is that it has not been politicized. When we went to talk to the institutions they told us that they supported us. But we were also told that we had to fend for ourselves. We have organized ourselves privately and this has allowed, for example, to give a lot of prominence to skiers. Surely this is the secret of success, that there has been no interference, that no one has wanted to appropriate it. Support has been unanimous, with no negative opinions. It’s exciting, and even more so coming out of the pandemic.

You are already organizing World Cup tests. What does an extra World Cup bring?

– To understand us, to be on the World Cup circuit is to enter a private club. But being one of the organizers of a World Cup is like entering the VIP lounge. It is a further step in image, prestige and international projection. The World Cup puts you in skiing, but the World Cup puts you on a global scale, because all countries sell there. It is another dimension.

And for the territory, beyond Andorra?

– It is beneficial for the Pyrenees, above all. I would position the whole massif at levels comparable to the Alps, the Rockies in the USA … It’s like saying that you can do everything you need in terms of snow. No one should be convinced anymore, skiing would be beyond doubt forever more. It would even be good for Barcelona, ​​if it finally gets ahead of the Olympic candidacy.

Do you keep saying that if they don’t win the 2027 edition they will be presented in the 2029 edition or the 2031 edition?

– Totally. The World Championships will be held in Andorra. That’s for sure. The doubt is when it will be.