Olympic year, Sappada already dreams

The Fauner myth launches Vittozzi, Buzzi and perhaps Graz and presents a flurry of all-skiing events until 2024

Olympic season almost upon us. From 4 to 20 February it will be a battle in Beijing. And there is a small village now in Friuli, Sappada, 1,300 souls, which paws. Because when there is a scent of snow and five-ring feats, the whole town puts on its ski suit and dreams.

Lisa Vittozzi in the biathlon, Emanuele Buzzi in the downhill and perhaps also the young cross-country skier Davide Graz are training with the Olympics goal.

Silvio Fauner, glory of the country for that memorable golden sprint in Lillehammer 1994 over the Norwegians at their home, shows the way to the athletes.

No, do not call them homework, even if the municipal councilor for sport and tourism is also the technical manager of the biathlon of the Carabinieri sports group, and Lisa and Emanuele are soldiers of the Arma.

«Even if – explains Fauner – I have some experience with the Olympics. I started in Albertiville 1992, then Lillehammer ’94, then Nagano ’98 and Salt Lake City 2002.

Then the lack of qualification in Turin 2006 and two other Games, Vancouver 2010 and Sochi 2014 as cross-country coach, so I know very well that this will not be a snow season like any other. And it won’t be a winter like any other in Sappada, a land of champions with ten Olympic medals ».

The locality has arrows to its bow. At least two. A medal. «Lisa Vittozzi is charged, in Sweden yesterday in a preparation match at the end of the retirement with the national team she arrived on the podium. Now he has a “personalized” coach, Mirco Romanin from Forni Avoltri, he has to put two difficult years behind him and a medal in an individual match will fix everything ».

Then the other carabiniere, the 27-year-old Buzzi. “I’d like him to have a season of continuity, he’s a great talent, he was penalized by injuries but you will see that he will return to a high level”.

Then there is Davide Graz, 21-year-old cross-country skier, Fiamma Gialla whom Fauner indicates as a possible surprise in terms of Olympic convocations: «He is a great talent, he can fit into names, he has already made excellent placings in the Cup.

My son Daniele and my niece Eleonora in the background, on the other hand, I think they can aim for the next Olympics, at home ». Meanwhile, the country also produces technicians. “Daniele Piller is one of the Azzurri technicians, then we have two sports clubs, the Ski Club Sappada for the downhill and the Chamois for the cross-country skiing which count on about eighty mini athletes each – explains the councilor-gold medal – in short, the future is insured “.

Ask Fauner why there is so much silver in a small town. He responds with concepts such as passion, seriousness, tradition. And then it rattles off events. A list that makes us understand many things about a country’s sporting-tourist vocation.

“In 2021 Tricolori Special Olympics with 600 athletes, then the Opa Cup, a mini European cross-country championship, another 500 athletes at the starting line, a test event for the Eyof 2023, a large event in Fvg with the cross-country competitions in Sappada and biathlon.

In 2024? With Forni Avoltri we want the Nordic Ski Masters World Championships with two thousand participants. And then in the summer I dream of having a stage of the Giro back, perhaps arriving at the Sorgenti del Piave and … ». It will already be 2026, Milan-Cortina, other Olympics. Other triumphs.