Agreement Signed for Lahti to Host 2029 World Championships

The Finnish Ski Association is poised to finalize an agreement with the International Ski Federation (FIS) to host the 2029 World Championships in skiing in Lahti. This event is particularly noteworthy, as Lahti will become the first city to host the Nordic skiing World Championships for the eighth time.

On Monday, the Ski Association revealed that the city of Lahti and the Lahti Ski Club reached a local cost-sharing agreement, paving the way for the Finnish Ski Association to proceed with official discussions with FIS.

Earlier in May, Yle News reported that the Ski Association's board had opted for caution following a substantial financial setback, having experienced a deficit of 1.9 million euros in the previous fiscal year. The Association had communicated to FIS its reluctance to sign the initial hosting agreement due to financial uncertainties surrounding revenue and risk distribution for the major event.

In a move to facilitate the hosting process, FIS extended the bidding deadline for the Lahti World Championships to July 4th during its Congress held earlier in June.

"Throughout this journey, we have maintained a strong collaborative spirit with both the city of Lahti and the Lahti Ski Club to secure the necessary funding for the championships. From the perspective of the Ski Association and its leadership, reaching a local cost-sharing agreement in these financially uncertain times has been paramount," stated Sirpa Korkatti, chairwoman of the Ski Association.

The shared objective has been to establish a sustainable and successful collaboration for the upcoming World Championships involving all stakeholders. It is anticipated that this event will generate an economic impact of approximately 40.1 million euros for the Lahti region.

Korkatti emphasized the championships’ importance from multiple angles: "First and foremost, it reinforces Finland's and Lahti's legacy as hosts of the World Championships. Economically, this holds great significance, especially for local enterprises. Moreover, hosting the World Championships at home is a remarkable milestone for athletes and a strong motivator for their performance."

The FIS hosting agreement bestows upon the designated country, along with its respective city or region, the right to organize the World Championships. This pact outlines the rights and responsibilities of both FIS and the local organizers as they plan the event. The contract is formalized between FIS and the Finnish Ski Association, which serves as the main applicant, in partnership with the host city.