Chess also has a world chess championship match set in Merano, and features a song entitled "Merano", which includes the line, "rosy-cheeked Merano, flourishing to a fault". The city's handball team, , is one of the most successful in Italy, winning the scudetto in 2005. The ice hockey team won two national championships but currently plays in the second division, Serie B. Each September, the Gran Premio Merano takes place in the Maia Racecourse; this is the most famous Italian Steeplechase. Merano hosted the 1953, 1971 and 1983 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships. This is where the well known 'Merano' move was created due to a tricky upstream gate. This move is now used and well known by many slalom paddlers worldwide. Twin towns and sister cities The twin towns and sister cities are: Salzburg, Austria References Further reading External links Meran.eu, Homepage of the Tourism Authority Spa towns in Italy Roman fortifications in Raetia