Norway is obligated to host, but the money has disappeared. Now, the local organizers are desperately seeking a solution, while the World Championships controversy continues to escalate.

The Norwegian Ski Association is obligated to host the U23 and Junior World Championships the year after holding the Nordic World Ski Championships. The event is scheduled to take place at the World Championship venue in Granåsen from March 3 to 8, 2026, but the funds intended to finance the championship are now gone.

In addition to the 2026 U23 and Junior World Championships, Norway is also set to host a World Cup round in Granåsen in December.

“The event fund is empty”

Until recently, it was expected that this winter’s Ski World Championships would generate a surplus of over NOK 20 million. Part of that surplus was to be used to create a fund for future events in Granåsen.

Specifically, NOK 1.5 million was earmarked for organizing World Cup events over the next three seasons, as well as support for the 2026 U23 and Junior World Championships. In total, the local organizers were promised a contribution of NOK 3 million.

However, in recent weeks, it has emerged that the 2025 Ski World Championship is facing a significant financial deficit and is at risk of bankruptcy. As a result, the planned event fund will not materialize.

Read More: World Championship scandal: “More excuses than explanations”

“It’s empty. Losing part of the basic funding creates additional challenges,” says Terje Lund, Head of Events at the Norwegian Ski Association, to Adresseavisen.

“The Norwegian Ski Association and the municipality of Trondheim are obligated to host the World Cup and Junior World Championships. The challenge now is how to finance it. As of today, we don’t have an answer to that,” he adds.

Uncertainty puts everything on hold

As it stands, the local organizers have neither a budget nor an agreement with the Ski Association for the mandatory events.

This puts the organizers in Granåsen in an extremely difficult situation. The company Granåsen Aktivum AS is responsible for organizing and delivering the events at the championship venue.

Granåsen Aktivum AS has an agreement with the event company Norway Events for the practical execution. Norway Events is the same company behind Toppidrettsveka in August. Daniel Myrmæl Helgestad is the CEO of Norway Events. He was also the race director during this winter’s World Championships, and Norway Events is now one of the creditors of the Ski World Championships.

“The financial situation of the World Championship company will certainly have consequences, though I don’t yet know what they will be,” Helgestad told Adresseavisen.

Also Read: World Championship scandal: “More excuses than explanations”

Helgestad believes they are running out of time to ensure well-run events this winter.

“But if we delay signing agreements, we could end up with the same issues as the World Championships appear to have. We have to keep working. Granåsen is built and needs major international events. It would be a shame if that doesn’t happen – and we are highly motivated.”

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