/ Welcome. Looking forward to welcoming you to the 1 st edition of the Race in the City.

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1 MEDIA INVITATION

2 / Welcome On behalf of the Organizing Committee I want to welcome all media, producers and commentators of national and international broadcasters as well as members of written and electronic press, journalists and photographers to the Race in the City FIS Cross-Country World Cup presented by Viessmann, on 14 th and 15 th January 2012 in Milan. I take this opportunity to thank all of you who have accompanied the Organizing Committee during the planning phase and the preparation. We are happy that the Italian Ski Federation F.I.S.I. host a FIS Cross-Country event of this magnitude after 16 years in the city of Milan, and we thank wholeheartedly the International Ski Federation FIS and all national and international sponsors and partners for their support. The FIS Cross-Country World Cup 2011/2012 will stop 20 times in 11 countries. Just after having raced in half of the World Cup event sites of the winter season and directly after the 8 th edition of FIS Tour de Ski, the elite of the international cross-country athletes will arrive in Milan to compete in four Sprint races. Sprint is the discipline which, more than any other, conveys the spirit of pure competition. This is a real Race, taking place in the city-centre of the North Italian metropolis Milan. Thanks to the Region Lombardia, Provincia of Milan and Città di Milano the races themselves will be held in an unique setting: in the Sempione park, in the historical centre, near the Dome of Milan and Sforzesco Castle. The Race in the city is aiming to join the tradition of important city sprints already held at Düsseldorf, Moscow, Oslo and Stockholm. You know already the Lombardy Region and Milan as the setting for major sporting events such as Giro D'Italia, as the capital of fashion and design and as a region and city full of life, tourist and cultural attractions. Now we invite you to get to know Milan as a real winter sports capital. Looking forward to welcoming you to the 1 st edition of the Race in the City. Maurizio Dallocchio Chairman of the FIS Cross-Country World Cup Race in the City Organizing Committee / 2 OC-SG

3 / The organizing committee Race in the city PRESIDENT CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER MEMBERS OF BOARD Maurizio Dallocchio Maurizio Gandolfi Franco Moscetti Umberto Vergani Piero Domenico Gallo Organization c/o Cassiopea Productions Srl Via Plinio Caio Secondo Milano (MI), Italy tel./fax Key persons SPORT OC Race in the city FIS RACE DIRECTOR Jürg Capol FIS ASSISTANT RACE DIRECTOR Pierre Mignerey FIS TD Georg Zipfel (GER) FIS ASS.TD Tomas Granlund (SWE) FIS PRESS COORDINATOR Sandra Spitz FIS MARKETING SUPPORT Michael Lamplot CHIEF OF COMPETITION Marco Mapelli (ITA) CHIEF OF TRACK Giuseppe Barzasi (ITA) - Luigi Confortola (ITA) CHIEF OF STADIUM Benito Moriconi (ITA) COMPETITION SECRETARY Maria Pietrogiovanna CHIEF OF CEREMONY Susanne Gawlyta VOLUNTEERS Armando Calvetti / 3 OC-SG

4 Key persons ORGANIZATION OC Race in the city ASSISTANT TO THE CEO Stefania Guerrieri SECRETARY GENERAL Cristina Savoldi Bellavitis COORDINATOR Susanne Gawlyta FINANCIAL ISSUES Andrea Gandolfi INFRASTRUCTURE LOGISTICS Guido Bonseri ACCOMMODATION Delia Occhi TECHNOLOGY Matteo Sertorelli CHIEF OF MEDIA COORDINATOR PHOTOGRAPHERS COMMUNICATION / PRESS OFFICE CONTACT Francesco Maggioni c/o MAB.q Federica Rosa Deborah Moleri c/o MAB.q WEBSITE & SOCIAL MEDIA Francesco Maggioni c/o MAB.q SPONSORING Stefania Guerrieri / 4 OC-SG

5 / The preliminary programme Race in the City Friday 13 th January, 2012 arrival of teams 14:00 h Opening Press-Conference, Sala Viscontea, Castello Sforzesco Saturday 14 th January, 2012 FIS Cross-Country World Cup presented by Viessmann INDIVIDUAL SPRINT 12:00 h Qualification round (block-start) Ladies/Men 14:45 h Finals Ladies / Men Immediately after the race: Award Ceremony at finish line After prize-giving: Winners' Press Conference, Sala Viscontea, Castello Sforzesco Sunday 15 th January, 2012 FIS Cross-Country World Cup presented by Viessmann TEAM SPRINT 09:45 h Semi-Finals Ladies / Men 12:15 h Finals Ladies / Men Immediately after the race: Award Ceremony at finish line After prize-giving: Winners' Press Conference, Sala Viscontea, Castello Sforzesco / 5 OC-SG

6 / The competition area The competition area for the FIS Cross-Country sprint races on the 14 th and 15 th January is situated close-by to the heart of the city of Milan. Only 1,5km from the Dome of Milan (1) and in medieval times between the inner and the outer wall, nowadays still part of the main citycentre, Sempione Park (2) will be the setting for the Ladies', Men's and Teams' competitions. The Sempione Park (Parco Sempione) With its 380,000 square meters, this is the largest area of greenery in the historic centre of the city and it is located immediately to the North West of the Sforza Castle. It was the second park to be created in Milan and it takes its name from its position on the old Route du Simplon, which was planned by Napoleon and led from the Duomo, past the Sforza Castle, through the Arch of Peace (Arco della Pace) along Corso Sempione and eventually to the Simplon Pass in the Swiss Alps and thence to France. The park was designed in 1893 by Emilio Alemagna to further embellish and complement the Castello Sforzesco. A number of important public buildings stand inside the park: the Aquarium, built in 1906 for the International Exhibition, the Civic Arena (the site of several sports clubs), the Palazzo della Triennale, which hosts important exhibitions, particularly those concerning architecture and design, and the m high steel-built Branca Tower, designed by Giò Ponti and inaugurated in / 6 OC-SG

7 The competition course The competition course of the Race in the city will in the form of a ring of 620 m, with start and finish line at Piazza del Cannone, in front of the complex of Castello Sforzesco Castle. The course is laid out through the park and will be completely flat: there are no substantial differences in height. The competition will include two laps with the competitors passing the cross-country stadium in front of the castle three times. The course has features that make it suitable for both ladies and men and will provide a real technical, tactical and physical test of each of the competitors qualification. An appropriate snow surface will be designed with the use of natural and artificial snow. The snow will be transported from a nearby mountain resort on a daily basis to ensure the perfect maintenance of the course. / 7 OC-SG

8 / Media Centre at Sforza Castle (Castello Sforzesco) The Viscontea Hall of the Castle (Sala Viscontea) will host the media centre with work stations for up to 100 journalists. The opening press-conference as well as the two winners' pressconferences after the individual and team sprint competitions will be held as well in this ancient setting. In the Media Centre there will be a small catering area with hot drinks and snacks. Due to the unique location of the Media Centre in the centre of the city, there are plenty of restaurants at you disposal in a range of 5-10 min walk. Opening times Fri, Jan 13 th Sat, Jan 14 th Sun, Jan 15 th 10:00-22:00 8:00-22:00 8:00-18:00 The Castello Sforzesco is the largest civil monument in Milan of the Renaissance period and it dominates the square of the same name, from which the street of Via Dante connects it directly to the central Piazza del Duomo. It is a grand and imposing building including architectural features dating to various different historical periods. Its 800 meter-long brick-built perimeter walls, the moat that surrounds them, the corner towers, the three courtyards, the battlements, the dungeons and the precious masterpieces that it houses all make the Castello Sforzesco an essential part of any itinerary of the visitor to Milan. / 8 OC-SG

9 / Accommodation Even though opened in March 2010, The Hub Hotel Milan has became, in only few months, one of the reference points of the hospitality of Lombardy s capital. The Hub Hotel in Milan offers 162 rooms, Classic-Superior and Deluxe. All rooms are perfectly soundproof and equipped with an efficient, automatically adjustable air-conditioning system, LCD flat screen with satellite TV, cable and Wi-Fi internet connection, mini bar, telephone, safe, desk with lamp, kettle with a selection of coffee, tea and herbal tea, bathroom with shower or bathtub, elegant bathrobe and an elegant courtesy line. Smoking rooms are available on request. Address GPS Via Privata Polonia 10 I Milano (MI), Italy Tel Fax info@thehubhotel.com latitude longitude Price per room (minimum stay two nights), reserved to media representatives: 65,00 / night The price is intended per standard room, per night, breakfast buffet included and free entrance to the spa and pool area of the hotel. Note: As the special price is depending on an early reservation by December 5 th, 2011 we would like to ask you to send your accommodation requests (name of guest, IN / OUT, single or double occupancy) to accommodation@raceinthecity.it / 9 OC-SG

10 Distance from the hotel to Competition area Parco Sempione Milan Central railway station (Milano C.le) Airport Linate LIN Airport Malpensa MXP Orio al Serio airport Milano City fair grounds (Fiera Milano City) Rho Pero Fair grounds: (Fiera Rho) 9 km 9 km 17 km 42 km 54 km 4 km 5 km The Hub Hotel Milano (A) Competition area at Parco Sempione (B) / 10 OC-SG

11 / Accreditation Online-Registration The FIS Cross-Country Media Season Accreditation is valid for the entire FIS World Cup season 2011/2012. Please make sure that you have the FIS season accreditation 2011/2012 with you. In case that you do not have any FIS Accreditation you are kindly requested to fill out the accreditation request form in the section Please note that your request has to be approved by the media responsible prior to your arrival. You will be informed accordingly. -> Contact: Photographers The photographers' bib will be distributed in accordance with the OC Coordinator of Photographers and FIS Media Coordinator in occasion of the Photo briefing, held at the Media Centre on Friday, 13 th January 2012 at 15:00 o'clock. For further questions, please contact: Vehicles Parking is very limited and available only with valid parking pass. In order to allocate the available parking spaces, we would like to ask you to send your reservation of a pass beforehand to the OC at Parking passes will be provided at the reception desk of the Media Centre in Sala Viscontea upon your arrival. / 11 OC-SG

12 / Shuttle Service Arrival The hotel offers a complimentary shuttle service which will allow you to reach easily FOR THOSE YOU ARRIVE BY TRAIN TO MILANO CENTRAL STATION take subway yellow line, change at Repubblica to S5/S6 and exit at the urban railway station Milano Certosa Train Station Note: When you are going to arrive at Milano Certosa Train Station you are invited to call the front office of the hotel (tel: ) in order to find the hotel's shuttle at the railway station's exit for Via Mambretti FOR THOSE WHO ARRIVE BY PLANE TO MILANO-MALPENSA AIRPORT MXP take the shuttle train Malpensa Express and exit at Milano Bovisa Railway Station Note: When you are going to arrive at Bovisa Railway Station you are invited to call the front office of the hotel (tel: ) in order to be picked up at the train station. More information you will find at: Competition Days Free transport service will be offered during your stay between the media hotel The HUB Milano and the FIS World Cup area on the competition days on a scheduled basis. For other destinations, private transport must be individually organized at own costs. Please contact transport@raceinthecity.it for a personal offer. **** / 12 OC-SG