Knut-Eirik Dybdal Appointed CEO of the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships 2029
The LOC Board of the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships 2029 has appointed Knut-Eirik Dybdal as the new Chief Executive Officer. He will take the lead in planning and delivering the event – Norway’s first Alpine World Championships.
Born in 1975 and originally from Andørja in Ibestad Municipality, Dybdal brings a strong background from the Norwegian Armed Forces and more than two decades of experience in tourism, sports events, and regional development across Northern Norway.
Reykjavik June 4 2024 – The awarding of the World Championship
Dybdal is widely known as the founder and longtime managing director of the Arctic Race of Norway, the world’s northernmost professional cycling stage race. Under his leadership, the race became an international success, creating strong ties between local communities and major global players like ASO, the organiser of the Tour de France.
Dybdal has held several senior roles in both the public and private sectors, including Director of Nordic Gruppen. He has chaired the boards of the 2029 World Championships company and the North Norwegian Film Commission, and served as a business mentor at UiT The Arctic University of Norway. From 2020 to 2022, he was also a member of Norway’s official Corona Commission, appointed by the government.
With a proven track record in project management, relationship-building, and delivering large-scale events, Dybdal has built a strong reputation as an effective and visionary leader.
We are very pleased to have Knut-Eirik Dybdal in place as the leader of the Alpine World Ski Championships in Narvik. Through projects such as the Arctic Race of Norway, he has demonstrated his ability to deliver major international events with strong local roots — events that have been both sporting and commercial successes.
– Eirik Frantzen, Chair of the Board.
Chairman Eirik Frantzen – Foto: Ole Berg-Rusten / NTB
Dybdal played a key role in Narvik’s successful bid for the 2029 World Championships, working closely with over 80 municipalities to secure broad regional support. Throughout the process, he emphasized Narvik’s unique Arctic combination of mountains, fjords, and arctic lights — an identity that gave the bid a strong and distinctive profile, which proved decisive in securing the championship.
In 2013, Dybdal was named “Northern Norwegian of the Year” by NRK and Avisa Nordland for his ability to bring people and regions together around ambitious shared goals.
With Dybdal now officially leading the organization, the preparations for the 2029 Alpine World Championships move into a new and decisive phase. His experience, vision, and network will be crucial to delivering a world-class championship with lasting impact for both alpine skiing and Northern Norway.
I am grateful for the trust placed in me and look forward to making the World Championships in Narvik a national and international success. This is not just about delivering a great sporting event, but about creating lasting value for the region and for the wider community. – Knut-Eirik Dybdal
