Italy and GIS shine as Host of the 70th SCIJ Winter Meeting in Bardonecchia

At the 70th Winter Meeting of the Ski Club International des Journalistes (SCIJ), Italy—represented by its association Giornalisti Italiani Sciatori (GIS)—once again proved to be an excellent host during the last week of January. The team led by GIS President Roberta Serdoz welcomed around 130 journalists from 25 nations to Bardonecchia, the well-known winter sports resort in the Piedmont region. Our ski enthusiasts from all over the world, from Chile to Kazakhstan, stayed at the Olympic Village in Bardonecchia, which had hosted athletes during the 2006 Turin Winter Olympics. At that time, the Olympic snowboard competitions were held in Bardonecchia.

The packed schedule for the week of January 26 to February 2 offered numerous highlights. Sporting events included a giant slalom race and a cross-country skiing competition, where journalists competed for world championship titles in various age categories.

Think tanks on current topics, wine tastings, an excursion to the regional capital Turin, a culinary tour organized by Confagricoltura Piemonte with support from the companies Uova Fantolino di Fiano, Baldi di Burio, and Sergio Gozzelino di Costigliole d’Asti, as well as a Nations Evening where all participating countries presented culinary delights from their homelands, the annual SCIJ General Assembly (without elections), and a gala dinner were also part of the program—alongside the friendly journalistic exchange among participants. And, of course, there was plenty of celebration at the cellar bar of the Olympic Village.

“Our Italian friends are always such gracious hosts,” said Canadian SCIJ President Frederick Wallace. “I’m already looking forward to reuniting with our colleagues from around the world at the 71st Winter Meeting in 2026.”