Historical moment at the Norwegian Parliament

The ambition goes beyond hosting a championship; it is about using the World Championships to strengthen the Arctic in an entirely new way.

When the world’s best alpine skiers gather in Narvik in 2029, it will be both the first Alpine World Ski Championships held in Norway and the largest international sporting event ever staged in the Arctic. The organizers aim to use the championships to build a unique partnership between business, the public sector, academia and sports, while highlighting the opportunities in a region that is attracting increasing international attention.

On Wednesday, 21 October, representatives from across the political spectrum in the Norwegian Parliament, the business community, academia and several public-sector organisations will gather to mark the launch of this initiative.

- The Alpine World Ski Championships are a historic opportunity to invite the world to the Arctic. Norway has never hosted the Alpine World Ski Championships before, and never before has an event of this scale been held so far north. If we are to create a championship unlike anything the world has ever seen, we must work with the entire country and bring together leading experts across sectors and areas of society,” says World Championships CEO Knut-Eirik Dybdal.

A national initiative with an Arctic perspective

The Arctic has become a region of growing strategic importance. At the same time, the High North faces significant opportunities and challenges related to expertise, infrastructure, technology, sustainability and business development. Through the 2029 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships, the organisers aim to create a lasting impact extending far beyond the two weeks of competition.

A broad partnership between businesses, public-sector organizations, research and education institutions, and the sports community will therefore also be launched at the Norwegian Parliament. The ambition is to make the World Championships a platform for innovation, value creation, and international visibility for Narvik, Northern Norway, and Norway as a whole.

- We want to show what is possible in a region that is attracting increasing global attention – and demonstrate how stakeholders in the High North can collaborate on innovation and develop forward-looking solutions. This is about creating a joint national effort that can contribute to development, learning and new opportunities in the years leading up to 2029 and long after the medals have been awarded, says Dybdal.

The event will bring together key decision-makers, representatives from business and the public sector, research and educational institutions, partners, and prominent figures in Norwegian alpine skiing.