Zagreb is to host the 10th race on 4 January when the world's best women slalom racers will test their skills. On 6 January the seventh men's slalom race will be held. In January 2014, the races were called off due to unfavourable weather conditions.
"FIS has taken a great risk in allowing the race because when they inspected the run it was only 20 percent ready but the colder weather and snow on Sunday has enabled us to prepare the race in peace," said Pavlek, adding that Sljeme was still faced with the problem of insufficient water to create snow, hopeful that by the next edition of the race in 2016, a reservoir would be built to resolve that problem.
This year's budget for the 10th edition of the race is HRK 21.5 million, 75% of which is covered from commercial sources, sponsorship, TV rights and tickets, while the City of Zagreb will provide 25%, he said.
"Even though the financial situation is unfavourable and we were compelled to reduce the amount that the City of Zagreb grants the organisers of sporting competitions, we assessed that the World Cup race on Sljeme has an exceptional value in promoting our city," Deputy Mayor Sandra Svaljek said.
In addition to the traditional women's and men's slaloms, a humanitarian race of legendary skiers will be organised featuring, along with the usual participants Alberto Tomba, Janica Kostelic, Nika Fleiss and Bojan Krizaj, for the first time Michaela Dorfmeister, Jure Franko and Kalle Palander.
This is a good opportunity to advertise Croatia, as the event will be covered live by some of the most reputable TV channels from some of our most important tourism markets, Tourism Minister Darko Lorencin said.
The Sljeme race will be followed by around 500 local and foreign reporters with live coverage in 25 countries. Germany's ZDF is bringing a team of 28 people to Zagreb to cover the race.