World Ski Championships in Trondheim Not Meeting Requirements – Environmental Activists Threaten to Disrupt Race

Environmental activist group Folk mot fossilmakta intends to disrupt the men’s 50 km free race at the upcoming World Ski Championships in Trondheim, Norway, on March 8, 2025. In a statement released in mid-January, the group demanded that the logos of fossil fuel companies sponsoring the event be removed and that a video be broadcast explaining why fossil fuels should be abandoned. They required a response by February 5, but when their demands were not met, the activists announced that they would carry out their threat during the race.

Organizers have made it clear that they do not accept any forms of disruption and insist that any protest should occur within the rules. A press release from the event’s organizing body emphasized that while climate challenges affect everyone, any form of demonstration must not jeopardize the safety of athletes or spectators. They stressed the importance of maintaining the integrity of the competition.

The incident has stirred concern among the ski community. Swedish cross-country skier Maja Dahlqvist described the intrusion onto the racecourse as "scandalous." Meanwhile, Emil Iversen, who won the 50 km race at the 2021 World Championships, expressed frustration over the prospect of such protests, stating that while athletes are very aware of environmental issues, the sporting arena is not the right venue for such demonstrations.

In addition to the protest threat, there is growing discussion about the escalating organization costs of the championships in Trondheim. The city has reportedly spent a total of 1.2 billion Norwegian kroner (about 100 million euros), with the bulk of the investment going into developing the Granåsen sports park which is being used as the central venue for the championships. Trondheim’s finance chief, Kjetil Reinskoun, acknowledged that both the municipality and the organizing company underestimated the direct event costs. Local sports are also feeling the impact of these enormous expenditures, with criticism that the funds could have been used to build community sports facilities such as swimming halls.

The controversy highlights the intersection of environmental activism, the high stakes of international sports, and the financial challenges of hosting major events.