Finnish Ski Association's Ambitious Plans for 2029 World Championships in Lahti

The anticipated agreement for the 2029 World Championships in Lahti was initially expected to be finalized by early June. However, a delay has since been announced.

The Finnish Ski Association currently owes the city of Lahti around 1.9 million euros from the 2017 World Championships. The newly appointed chairman, Sirpa Korkatti, has emphasized the necessity of a careful financial strategy moving ahead.

Korkatti communicated to the International Ski Federation (FIS) that the Finnish Ski Association is not ready to proceed with signing the agreement to organize the 2029 World Championships just yet. The primary concern revolves around the financial allocation of responsibilities among the Finnish Ski Association, the Lahti Ski Club, the city of Lahti, and Salppuri Oy.

As the sole applicant for the event, the Finnish Ski Association finds itself in a strong negotiating position for favorable terms. Korkatti stated that once a satisfactory local organizational agreement is reached, they will be ready to commit to the event. Nevertheless, uncertainty surrounding finances has led to the postponement of the signing.

City manager Niko Kyynäräinen of Lahti has expressed support and understanding concerning the Ski Association's situation, emphasizing that the unfavorable conditions of the 2017 agreement were not initiated by them. He reiterated the mutual objective of ensuring the successful hosting of the 2029 Championships and assured that Lahti is fully prepared to host the event at any moment.

The lingering financial issues from the 2017 event are still casting shadows over the Finnish Ski Association's decision-making processes, with Korkatti underscoring the importance of learning from past errors.

Despite ongoing tensions within the FIS, particularly regarding contentious decisions made by Swedish chairman Johan Eliasch, the Finnish Ski Association remains focused on addressing its own challenges in line with its specific context and requirements.

Recently, the Lahti city council announced that repayment deadlines for the Finnish Ski Association’s debt would be extended, requiring full repayment only by the end of May 2029. This decision plays a crucial role in the cautious approach the Association is taking toward finalizing agreements for the 2029 Championships.