Historic Day for Narvik: Hosting the 2029 Alpine World Ski Championships

Jun 05, 2024·Alpine Skiing

Narvik delegation in Reykjavik © Agence Zoom

June 4, 2024, will forever be etched in Narvik's history. At the 55th FIS Congress in Reykjavik, Iceland, the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) announced that Narvik will host the 2029 Alpine World Ski Championships.

This momentous achievement fulfills a long-held dream for the town. The announcement was met with exuberant joy by the Narvik delegation, which included notable local and retired athletes like Ragnhild Mowinckel and Leif Kristian Haugen.

Around 10 p.m., the Harpa Congress Centre was filled with anticipation as FIS President Johan Eliasch prepared to announce the host city for the 2029 Alpine World Ski Championships. When he pronounced "Narvik, Norway," the room erupted in jubilation. This moment marked the culmination of extensive efforts and dedication to securing this prestigious event for Narvik.

"This is a monumental day for Norwegian skiing. The FIS World Championships is one of the world’s largest sporting events, viewed by millions globally. Norway has long been recognized as a top alpine nation, and now we can finally host the Alpine World Championships at home."– Tove Moe Dyrhaug, president of the Norwegian Ski Federation

Knut-Eirik Dybdal, Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Alpine World Championships 2029, celebrated the award, emphasizing the collaborative effort that led to this victory.

"Ski-Norway and Northern Norway have lifted this championship project together through close and effective cooperation over many years. We eagerly look forward to the next stage with the Norwegian Ski Federation, local municipalities, regional businesses, and many other partners. While we recognize the significant work ahead, our primary focus is on creating a fantastic FIS World Championships" – Knut-Eirik Dybdal

The 2031 Alpine World Ski Championships were also awarded during this session

FIS decided to award two World Championships due to the high caliber of the bids from Narvik (Norway), Soldeu (Andorra), and Val Gardena (Italy). After Narvik won the bid for 2029, the room once again fell silent as FIS President Johan Eliasch prepared to announce the 2031 host city.

When Val Gardena was chosen as host, the delegation led by Rainer Senoner celebrated jubilantly. This marked the realization of a vision years in the making, as Val Gardena will host the Alpine World Ski Championships for the second time since 1970.

When he finally read out the name Val Gardena, the delegation led by Rainer Senoner erupted in boundless jubilation. It seemed as if a weight of tons had been lifted from the shoulders of all the delegation members who had not only made the long journey to Iceland, but had also worked for over three years to make their vision a reality. Because now it was clear: Val Gardena/Gröden will host the Alpine World Ski Championships in 2031 for the second time since 1970.

"I have no words. It's just incredible. We have worked so hard over the past three years to realize this dream, developing a comprehensive concept that encompasses innovation, inclusion, sustainability, sportiness, professionalism, our Ladin identity, and many other factors. Now, this dream is a reality. Our work, our first-class dossier, and above all, our passion for skiing have been recognized. We are deeply grateful to the FIS for their confidence, and we promise to organize successful competitions in seven years' time" – Rainer Senoner in his initial reaction.

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