The International Year of the Mountains and the FSA

In proclaiming 2002 as the International Year of the Mountains, the United Nations General Assembly has invited governments and the private sector to raise public awareness of the importance of the sustainable development of mountain regions.

For the IYM Italian Committee, sport represents an important instrument in promoting and broadcasting institutional issues, in particular, sport practised in the mountains. It is with this spirit that the Committee has nominated the FSA to be a partner in the management and promotion of a sports programme entitled "Sport & Mountain".

Mountain sports epitomize a clean image and one of sound credibility in the development of human performance, technology and in the quality of life at high altitude.

The sports programme consists of a series of specially selected events that demonstrate all the sports practicable at high altitude, 12 months of the year.

Throughout the year, scientific research will play an important role along with the formation of specific schools and scientific demarcation of routes for sports events and outdoor enthusiasts.

For information IYM 2002: www.montagna.org

SPORT AND MOUNTAIN DATA

27% of land above sea level is above 1,000 metres altitude 10% lies between 2,000 and 4,000 metres altitude 25% of sports enthusiasts in Europe practise sport in the mountains 16.5 million sports enthusiasts exist in the Alpine zone Source: FSA