Formal inauguration of the Nordic Arena Dobbiaco
Yesterday, 6th January 2010, the Nordic Arena of Dobbiaco was officially opened.
The new stadium was celebrated in the presence of the head of the provincial government Luis Durnwalder, Maurizio Sacconi, the minister of health, employment and for social services, the President of the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI) Gianni Petrucci, the President of the national association for winter sports (FISI) Giovanni Morzenti and Manuela Di Centa, permanent member of the IOC and member of the Italian Parliament. In the course of the festivities, CO-President Herbert Santer was honoured with the “Golden Star” for his extraordinary endeavours for Sports events.
The Nordic Arena firstly impresses with its unconventional type of construction. The building rises like hills in the south of New Dobbiaco in an area that has already previously been used for sport activities. The FIS as well as the local administration and the Tourism Association Dobbiaco have been favoring its location. The Bavarian architect Norbert Widmoser placed special emphasis on integrating the building into the landscape.
During the technical execution of the construction attention was placed to infuse a certain naturalness and tradition into the modern function building. Therefore all visible outside walls of the reinforced concrete frame construction have been covered with larch shingles and most roofs have been planted with grass. The dominant central building offers in its inside place for a visitor entrance with information counters, public toilets, changing cabins and sanitary facilities for the athletes and hobby sportsmen, a medical station where doping controls are made during the World Cup races as well as a weight room for sportsmen. In addition to space for a youth club, plans were also made for a meeting foyer, a restaurant with bar and a media area for events.
The adjacent lower buildings house the information center for the Tourism Association, appropriate rooms for winter ski rental and summer bike rental as well as a store for sport articles. A number of storerooms have been built here as well.
