Swiss television focuses on the virtual ski season

After last winter's huge success, Swiss television is launching a new version of the "Ski Challenge" game on its website on November 28. Fans of virtual skiing should get their money's worth again this winter. On offer are the downhill classics of Val Gardena, Bormio, Wengen, Kitzbühl and Are, as a spokesperson for Swiss Television (SF) confirmed on Tuesday at the request of SDA. The five virtual downhill races will be held simultaneously, just like the races on the icy slopes in the Alps and in Sweden. Between the races, the Internet runs can be practiced before qualifying runs are held to earn a starting place for the race weekend. Last winter, the computer game was downloaded 500,000 times from the SF website. 130,000 people actually took part in the races. "Ski Challenge" can also be played on TSR television in French-speaking Switzerland. In addition to offering the game on the Internet, TSR also plans to organize final competitions for the best virtual racers in Lausanne and Geneva at the beginning of 2007. Whether the German-speaking Swiss will follow suit and organize similar events remains to be seen, the spokesperson explained.