The organization of the Alpine country ski associations (French: Organization des fédérations de ski des pays alpins, in short: O.P.A.) is expanded by six new members. In addition to the ten national ski associations from Central and Southern Europe, which previously belonged to the O.P.A. belonged to, Finland, Croatia, Norway, Poland, Sweden and Hungary are now also full voting partners in the transnational cooperation. The organization announced this after its regular spring conference.
Since its founding in 1972, the O.P.A. mainly responsible for the implementation of competition series for the youth and junior area in the different ski disciplines. The primary goal of the partnership, which was initially limited to the Alpine region, was to prepare young athletes for the next higher level of competition.
Against the background of numerous challenges, including in the course of the Covid19 and energy crises, this cooperation at European level is to be intensified and improved through the expansion that has now been decided.
In addition, further projects are already being planned and implemented, which will create additional synergies. The focus, according to the unanimous opinion of all 16 member nations, should always be the development of the sport, the promotion of athletes and the respective disciplines.
After the expansion, the following national ski associations belong to the “Organization of Alpine Country Ski Associations”: Andorra, Germany, Finland, France, Italy, Croatia, Liechtenstein, Norway, Austria, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland, Slovenia, Spain, the Czech Republic, Hungary.
Against the background of this Europe-wide orientation, a timely renaming of the organization is also being considered as a next step.