Historic Day for Narvik: Hosting the 2029 Alpine World Ski Championships
Jun 05, 2024·Alpine Skiing
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.
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.
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.
