Organizers move to calm 2009 Val d'Isere worries

BORMIO, Italy, March 13 - Skiiers will be able to test the women's piste for the 2009 world championships in Val d'Isere at special runs later this month, Organizers said on Thursday as they tried to calm worries about the event.

International Ski Federation (FIS) president Gian Franco Kasper said last month he was worried about a dearth of test events, a shortage of accommodation and delays in building the media centre for the February 3-15 championships.

France's women's ski team will train on the under-used Solaise piste between March 26 and April 1.

"All other national teams are invited to join these training days. I already know the German team is interested," managing director Jean Luc Fabre told a news conference at the World Cup skiing finals in Bormio.

The build-up to the 2009 world championships has been tarnished by constant arguments within the organizing committee, leading high-profile personalities such as former ski champion Jean-Claude Killy to resign from their positions.

Concerns over accommodation for the event continue with Organizers saying some journalists may have to stay in neighboring Tignes while the accreditation centre will be situated outside Val D'Isere.

The media centre is due to be completed by the summer.

The Val D'Isere delegation tried to reverse the slew of bad publicity by pointing out there would be free access and travel for spectators, as well as environmentally-friendly transport.

(Reporting by Mark Meadows, editing by Justin Palmer)