The first event of the Alpine skiing season is due to be a giant slalom World Cup in Sölden in Austria, with the women’s competition scheduled for October 23.

Gerdol said the international governing body, together with event organisers and broadcasters, is aiming to make the season a huge success, exclaiming: "Let’s be optimistic!"

"All the stakeholders are working very hard, are all dedicated and committed to deliver the best possible experience for our athletes and our snowsports fans, even though it’s a massive task to deliver for us," Gerdol said.

"Of course it will not be easy but we will deliver it with dedication.

"My job as a FIS Alpine race director is getting more and more complicated and changed a lot with the current conditions during a global pandemic but I’m trying to tackle it as an opportunity.

"An opportunity, to demonstrate that we are still able to do this.

"I’m dedicated to deliver great events together with all the stakeholders for the best outcome of our sport."

The women’s Alpine race director believes that there will be several similarities with last season with regards to COVID-19 protocol, but that the prospect of events being held with spectators will provide an additional challenge.

"There will be tourists and many fans cheering, whereas most of the resorts were completely closed for them last year and only accessible for the FIS World Cup," Gerdol reflected.

"From this point of view, it will be more challenging, because more people will mix and come together with us.

"So we need to pay even more attention."

The Winter Olympic Games are due to be held in Beijing from February 4 to 20 next year, and Gerdol argued that the dynamics of the Alpine skiing events will be significantly transformed by the limited number of test events.

"What will be special for us this time, is that we didn’t have any test events beforehand due to the pandemic.

"It will be the first time for everybody in competition mode on the field of plays in Beijing, which will bring for sure some more challenges."

However, Gerdol is still expecting a "great" event.

The 2021-2022 Alpine skiing World Cup season is due to run from October 23 in Sölden until the event in Courchevel and Meribel in France from March 14 to 20 2022.