Narvik - Official FIS Alpine World Ski Champion­ship 2029

Conclusion of the Norwegian Ski Association Committee

«Narvik has presented a concept that meets FIS` demands for alpine world ski championship. The Evaluation Committee strongly believes this candidate can win the international competition and bring the event to Norway. All race courses have excellent profiles in a very compact race arena in Narvikfjellet close to the city center. This compactness is – for FIS ASWC– a considerable advantage related to transportation, accommodation, sport organization, athletes, sponsors, media and TV-production, as well as the overall ski festival including the ceremonies.

The spectacular sea and mountain backdrop and the noticeable regional enthusiasm and support are x-factors we trust will offer unique experiences and pictures that are beyond expectations. Narvik has provided a solid financing plan, showing regional financing will and ability, making it possible to choose Narvik as candidate despite high investment needs.»

Strengths of the candidacy

Unique location above the Arctic Circle

Polar Night and northern lights, but still enough daylight to carry out the event with required flexibility. Steep mountains and deep ice blue fjords, silence and crisp winter air. Slopes that dive into the sea, with views of wild north-Norwegian nature that takes your breath away. An untouched landscape, created for great alpine experiences. An AWSC in Narvik will provide memories for life, both for the athletes, the spectators and everyone who will contribute during the event.

Sustainable and environmentally friendly

Rapid changes on green solutions indicate that it is hard to predict exact solutions for years ahead. Nevertheless, Narvik will stage the most sustainable world class winter sport event ever. Our goal is to establish a standard and inspire the world to endeavor to a sustainable future. Narvik will implement several actions belonging to the respective phases of planning, construction and organizing the event. Some examples:

Narvik will take lead in transmission from fossil to renewable society, and establish an education program for environmentally friendly operation of mountain resorts. Cruise ships as floating hotels legitimizes a sustainable solution regarding accommodation during the event. The compact concept will reduce internal transport and the city gondola will additionally reduce car traffic and make it a city of pedestrians. All courses and lifts will be put into commercial use after FIS AWSC, and Gondolas will be the artery also for summer traffic in the mountain. New snow guns will predominate the snow system and ensure energy efficient snow production in the future.

Hosting the event in arctic surroundings emphasizes the need to minimize the environmental impact.

Compact and easily accessible

An AWSC in Narvik will require minimal transport of both athletes, support system, spectators, media and the organization of the championship. A common finish area, within walking distance of the festival area and the medal ceremonies in the city center of Narvik, makes the event both compact and easy accessible. All events during the championship are centered around the city center of Narvik, with accommodation and restaurant in the immediate vicinity.

Narvik is located as a transport hub in northern Norway, with 1 hour drive from the nearest major airport and easy access by car, train, bus and ship.

United Norway

Like all three other candidates, Narvik will arrange an event that meets all FIS’ requirements for the implementation of an AWSC. The difference is that we will do it as a united Norway, with pride, humility, cutting-edge expertise, and a common feasibility that will give the event an extra dimension. The whole country, with an extra strong commitment in northern Norway, is ready to host a first-class world championship in Narvik!

Numbers

700 athletes
68 nations
14 days of competition
965 m vertical drop
2.000 volunteers
7.000 beds
27 TV-stations
200 camera positions
1.000 accredited communication professionals
100.000 live spectators
1.000.000 moments of excitement

The Arena

Surrounded by blue Atlantic fjords and pointy mountain peaks, Narvikfjellet Ski Resort offers some of the most amazing views in the world. With its 1200 available altitude meters, and the extraordinarily long ski season from November to June, Narvikfjellet is described as one of the most unique ski resorts in Scandinavia. Some refer to the mountain as a powder paradise, others as a dreaded competition arena with hard-core choir velvet.

The Urban Coastal Ski Resort

The artic landscape combining sea and mountain makes Narvikfjellet Ski Resort a unique facility. The ski resort’s alpine history dates back to the 19th century, and has through several generations served as an arena for both organized alpine sports and a playground for locals and visiting skiers. The facility’s location in the middle of Narvik city is another x-factor. The location makes the skiing experience in Narvik compact, with all the city life’s facilities in immediate access.

Facts

Narvikfjellet is considered a small ski resort compared to the major ski destinations in the world, but has far more unique factors that give skiing a new dimension. Prior to the development of a possible championship, the facility has 6 lifts and 16 slopes with a total of 14 kilometers of track network. The drop for lift-based skiing is 850 meters, and the highest point is 1003 meters above sea level.

The lift system consists of a new modern 10-seater cable car (2019), one chair lift, three T-bar lifts and one conveyor belt. The resort offers slopes for all skill levels and all the necessary facilities for a complete skiing holiday in Narvik.

The facility serves as a training arena for both regional and national alpine clubs throughout the ski season.

During the summer and autumn, Narvikfjellet functions as an activity center for cycling, hiking, running and arctic nature experiences. The new cable car and the Mountain Restaurant 656 masl are one of the most visited attractions in northern Norway. The midnight sun creates a unique setting, and is an Arctic phenomenon that easily can be seen from the top of Narvikfjellet.

Narvikfjellet

About

Narvik is the alpine capital in Northern Norway and the arctic areas of Scandinavia. Narvik is an alpine town with a mountain in its midst and urban qualities within walking distance. Few, if any other destinations, can offer TV pictures of athletes skiing from 1200 m above sea level and straight down towards the town and sea. In Narvik you will find all the facilities expected in a city, such as restaurants, hospital, department stores, cinema, museums and hotels.

Logistics/transport

Narvik is a logistics centre in the region. It is easy to move around by several means of transport, with the railway to Sweden, the E6 road from south to north, the E10 road from east to west, several airports in an acceptable proximity, and an ice-free deep water harbour adapted to large ships.

Nature

Narvik, and the entire arctic region, offers a natural diversity from mountains to fjords, midnight sun to northern lights. The nature in Narvik is characterized by mountains, fjords, water, lakes and rivers. The mountains rise straight up from the beach surface which forms a fringe of lowlands along the coast.

History

Narvik was established in the early 1900s as a shipment harbour for iron ore from Norrbotten and Lappland in Sweden. The iron ore is still transported by train from Kiruna, Gällivare and Malmberget. The 42 km long Ofot Railway on the Norwegian side transports more than 20 million tonnes of iron ore a year. The Swedish state-owned LKAB is one of the largest industrial companies in the arctic areas of Scandinavia, with 4200 employees, and is a cornerstone company in both Norrbotten and the Narvik region. The Ofot Railway and its geographical location has contributed to Narvik becoming and growing into a traffic intersection for the northern areas.

In addition to many iron ore trains, the Ofot Railway has daily passenger trains to and from Sweden and two daily fast goods trains from Alnabru/Oslo – Narvik. An increasing amount of fish is exported via the railway to markets in south of Norway and Europe. This large increase of traffic on the railway has led to the Swedish and Norwegian railway owners reviewing a double track from Narvik to Kiruna.

NEWS: Learn more about the destination

Visit Narvik.com

The organization chart below presents the organization of the applicant phase until the international award May 2022.

In the application process, the main focus is to provide the organization with the necessary professional competence in relation to certain chapters in the questionnaire.

When Narvik and Norway have been awarded the AWSC, a new event company will be established with a staff that takes care of all essential functions. Examples of such functions are economics and finance, environment and sustainability, security, marketing, arena, sports, information and media.