"I am still optimistic, but time is running out. It's not too late yet, but it's already past five to twelve," said Alois Stadlober. The application deadline for the Nordic Ski World Championships 2031 is May 1st.

Nordic Ski World Championships 2031: All a Matter of Money

The ambitions for the World Championships are also hampered by local political upheavals due to outstanding promissory notes from the 1999 World Championships in Ramsau amounting to over two million euros. These loans granted by the state at the time must be repaid by 2053 at the latest. The discussion about this and the World Championship plans in general will only be clarified after the municipal council election on March 23rd. The current mayor, Ernst Fischbacher, is not running again. "After the election, we will have another big meeting in Graz with state representatives, the new municipal representatives, and the Austrian Ski Association," Stadlober told APA.

The long back and forth is not ideal. "It's difficult. We have prepared everything very well, but of course, it's about the budget and the funding," said Stadlober, without mentioning specific budget figures. For the 2019 World Championships in Seefeld, it was around 30 million euros, including major construction projects. For the major event in Styria, the competition facilities are also to be modernized, including the construction of a new normal hill. The investments in the partly outdated sports infrastructure would benefit the tourism region in the long term and would be overdue even without the World Championships, according to Stadlober. The large hill ski jumping events are to take place in Bischofshofen, as they did in 1999, where investments will likely also be necessary.

The award of a bid to the International Ski Federation (FIS) would be practically certain for Ramsau. Because there is currently no competitor in sight. This is expected to be different for 2033. Stadlober expects a German applicant and Lake Placid, which is why Austria should definitely take advantage of the great opportunity before then.

(APA/Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.