It's on the Zoncolan snow fields that the Final European Cup Alpine Skiing Disabled 5 - Memorial Hans Erlacher, organized by the Ski Club 2, will take place from 11^th to 14^th February. 21 countries are going to take part in the 2010 edition of the Finals European Cup (which will have their headquarters in Tolmezzo and Arta Terme), 140 athletes in all (300 considering also trainers and staff), with an estimated number of 3,000 spectators; teams from all over Europe are also expected, including some of the best-known names of the international sports world. Athletes such as Martin Braxenthaler, Melania Corradini and Gianmaria Dal Maistro will be present at the event on Zoncolan. The final program has been shown today in Ronchi dei Legionari by the coordinator Paolo Tavian.

“It's the fifth time that we have undertaken the organization of events such as this one, which sees the cooperation of public bodies and private sponsors and will be a great sports and tourist attraction for the entire region. The only drawback is the lack of the expected support from the regional authorities”, said MrTavian. In fact the races belong no more to the Great Events, as it was till last edition.

The programme: on Thursday 11^th  February arrival of teams to Arta Terme, accommodation in hotels and Team Captain meeting; on Friday 12^th  Super Combined-Super Giant Slalom and Super Combined-Slalom. On Saturday Giant Slalom, followed by dinner and a big party for the athletes. On Sunday, the last day, Slalom and final prizegiving on mount Zoncolan. Four days of races, parties and events.

Furthermore, the Ski Club is holding meetings in the primary and secondary schools of the area, with conferences about physical disability. At least 2-3 classes per school are involved. The youths will be carried to the ski runs during the races.

“The fact that the organizing association comes from Ronchi tells us a lot about the tradition of the regional association world, and this makes us feel proud”, explained Mr.Roberto Fontanot, Mayor of Ronchi dei Legionari.

The work carried out by the Ski Club 2 is important also because thanks to such projects, especially when they are promoted in schools, the youths can understand the importance of sport as an experience in itself and not as results, and is free”, commented Mrs Silvia Altran, Vice-mayor of Monfalcone and Town Hall manager responsible for Sport.

The European Championships will be important not only for the sports world but also for the tourist sector; this the opinion of Mrs Sara Vito, Provincial Manager in charge of the Sport sector. “This means a significant moment, in which people have the unique possibility to increase their self-confidence”.

Mr.Giorgio Brandolin, Regional Counsellor and Chairman of CONI (Italian Olympic Games Committee), underlined the importance of supporting one of the few regional activities which are performed on the snow. “Our province has still much to do in the field of sport, especially in comparison with other sectors. But when we get the results, we realize that,in any case, we are very, very good”.

Partners of the event are the regional government, provinces, communes (Paluzza, Arta Terme, Tolmezzo, Suttrio, Ronchi dei Legionari, Monfalcone, Trieste, Udine), Civil Defence, International Palympic Committee, Fis (Italian Fencing Federation), Fisi (Italian Winter Sports Federation), Cip (Italian Paralympic Committee), and other private sponsors.

2010 is not the first year in which the finals have been organized in Friuli Venezia Giulia under the guidance of the sports association of Monfalcone: the first meeting was the World University Games in 2003 on mount Zoncolan, followed by the Italian Cup (2004), the European Cup (2005), the Final European Cup (2006) and the Final World Cup (2007), in which there was a parade of over 20 countries in Piazza Unità d'Italia, side events, meetings and promotional campaigns concerning physical disability.