16th Para-Ski World Championships, Austria 2017 - Prize-Giving & Closing Ceremony

With the removal of the FAI flag to hand-over to the next Nation organising a World Championships (the Czech Republic, 2019) the 16th World Para-Ski Championships is formally over.  Before that happened we had the athletes parade through the town of St. Johann im Pongau behind the Military Band of Salzburg and the aerial display by two aircraft from Red Bull Hangar 7; to gather in the town square for the final speeches and medal awards to the new World Champions.

Male Team
Austria White	World Champions Russia 1	Czech Republic 'A'

Female Team
Switzerland	World Champions Austria	Russia 1

Male Individual
Sebastian Graser Austria	World Champion Alexey Burenin  Russia	Ayaz Karimov Russia

Female Individual
Christina Franz Switzerland	World Champion  Magdalena Schwertl Austria	Andzhela Govorova Russia

Junior
Manuel Sulzbacher Austria	World Champion Sebastian Graser Austria	Jakub Rataj Czech Republic

Master
Marco Valente Italy	World Champion Anton Gruber Austria	Karl Keuzer Austria

It was very nice to hear the National Anthems played during the award ceremony by a live band, although it was not too difficult for them - 4 of the 6 Gold Medals went to Austrian competitors - they just had to know the Russian Anthem as well. 

The Medal Ceremonies were preceded by speeches from the Mayor of St. Johann im Pongiu and the President of the Town Council of Sallzburg.  Both praised all the athletes and the organisation but were obviously proud of their National and local success in the medal haul.   After the actual prize giving was over and the Band had played a couple more pieces of music for us, the President of IPC, Dr. Rainer 'Exi' Hoenle  made a short speech of praise for both the Local Organisation and all Competitors by commenting on their 'Excellent' performances, before formally declaring the 16th World Para-Ski Championships over.  The flag was lowered, the FAI Anthem played and we all left the square to walk back through the town (again behind the band) to the hotel that hosted the Farewell Banquet.

Dignitaries & Sponsors	Announcers	Audience
Mayor of St Johann im Pongau	President City Council Salzburg	Dr. Rainer 'Exi' Hoenle

The glorious weather on the final day and the fact that the organisation used all the possible jumpable and skiable weather breaks meant a very satisfied collection of competitors - the results were the best that could have been done.  Congratulations and thanks were paid to various Officials for their work during the championships, at the start of the dinner, then everyone relaxed and enjoyed themselves.

Assistant to the Chief Judge & the Chief Judge	Dinner Menu

My personal thanks have to go to the organisation, judges and scoring section for having made my work easier and pleasant and to Carsten Thiel for the majority of the great photographs, also Arnold Hohenegger for some of the others - the balance were taken by me.  Looking forward to meeting everyone again in the Czech Republic.

Finally, but not least to my colleague Fay Kimble for her work on the results page - thank you (and for proofreading for me).

A reminder of the start (just been sent the picture!): - photo courtesy of HSV Red Bull Salzburg