Today's negotiations between Levi, The Finnish Tourism and Restaurant Industries Federation (MaRa) and the service union PAM resulted in an agreement to exempt Levi from the ski resort staff strike scheduled for next week. Jouni Palosaari, managing director of the Levi Ski Resort and Chairman of the Levi World Cup Organizing Committee, was very pleased with the PAM's decision which enables FIS World Cup Levi to take place on Nov. 13th-15th as scheduled.
"I'm truly grateful to representatives of PAM for seeing the importance of World Cup Levi for Finnish Alpine Skiing and winter tourism. Now we can concentrate on organizing the races and all other events of the race weekend as planned."
Despite the impending strike, race preparations at Levi have continued normally during this week. The Levi Black race course has been injected with water and is now in excellent condition as the race weekend approaches.
"Today's positive decision gives us extra boost in organizing next weekend the greatest Finnish Alpine Skiing event of all time", says Secretary General of World Cup Levi Mikko Saarinen.
World Cup Levi 2009 will be kicked off by the opening ceremonies and ladies' public draw in the centre of Levi on Friday, Nov. 13th at 8.45 p.m. Women's World Cup Slalom Opening takes place on Saturday, men's opening race is on Sunday. Both races on the Levi Black slope start at 11 a.m. The races will be televised live on the Finnish TV channel MTV3 on Saturday and Sunday starting at 10.40 a.m.
