Host city | Vail, Colorado |
---|---|
Country | United States |
Events | 10 |
Opening | February 2, 1989 |
Closing | February 12, 1989 |
Opened by | Gerald Ford |
Main venue | Vail |
The FIS Alpine World Ski Championships 1989 were held February 2–12 in the United States at Vail, Colorado.[1] Outside of the Winter Olympics of 1960 and 1980, the alpine world championships returned to the U.S. for the first time since 1950, which were also in Colorado at Aspen. Vail's first championship served to re-introduce Colorado to a European audience, with coverage of the events broadcast during prime time due to the difference in time zones.[2] The championship was marked by the death of the president of the Spanish Olympic Committee Alfonso, Duke of Anjou and Cádiz, who was beheaded by a cable which he collided with as it was being raised to support a finish line banner.[3]
Vail and Beaver Creek later hosted the World Championships a decade later, in 1999, and again in 2015.