The World Championship celebration in Trondheim has spread to the former Olympic host city of Lillehammer. According to local newspaper gd.no, several influential figures in Lillehammer sports now want to bring the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships to their city.

“It’s like jumping after Wirkola,” says Trondheim’s Mayor Kent Ranum. In the photo above, you see Therese Johaug winning the World Cup in Lillehammer in December — an event that didn’t exactly radiate World Championships vibes.

Lillehammer is one of Norway’s most active winter sports host cities. After World Championships in both Oslo and Trondheim during the 2000s, many in Lillehammer believe it’s now their turn.

“Oslo had theirs, and Trondheim had two. Lillehammer hasn’t hosted a World Championship, so it’s only natural that the next one goes here,” said Stein B. Olsen, event manager at Rada Reiseliv, to GD.

He was backed by Lillehammer mayor Hans Olav Sundfør. GD‘s editor-in-chief, Tom Martin Kj. Hartviksen, also wrote in a commentary that Lillehammer should host a World Championship.

Support from Trondheim’s Mayor

The idea is supported by Kent Ranum, mayor of Trondheim.

“I believe such a celebration can be important for the people, so if Lillehammer can make it happen, it would likely be very positive,” Ranum told GD.

“It’s clear that hosting a ski World Championship is demanding. We’re still waiting on the final results, but the most important outcome is probably that we created a festival for the entire region. That’s hugely valuable — but one must also be sure the championship can be justified compared to all the other good causes public funds could support,” he added.

How to Spark Public Interest?

The big challenge for those hoping to host major events is always the economics. With the December World Cup fresh in mind, Lillehammer must find a way to really ignite enthusiasm among the local population. During the races at Birkebeineren Ski Stadium before Christmas, the crowd was so sparse that even foreign athletes took notice.

To make the budget work, the city also needs a cooperative and supportive municipality willing to contribute financially — as Trondheim did. Lillehammer’s advantage is that their existing facilities likely won’t need as much upgrading as Trondheim’s Granåsen did.

“How much we’ve made — or whether we’ve made anything at all — we don’t yet know. At the same time, we invested heavily in Granåsen, and that has to be viewed as a long-term investment,” Ranum said.

Positive Toward Lillehammer Bid

Ranum understands the calls for a new championship — and for it to be held in Lillehammer.

“I think it’s great that Trondheim’s celebration is inspiring others to pursue a ski World Championship. After seeing the TV coverage from Trondheim, I completely understand them,” he told gd.no.

“We’ll support whatever Lillehammer wants. I love a good party and would gladly help Lillehammer achieve something similar. Still, as they say — it’s like jumping after Wirkola,” he added, using the ski-jumping metaphor for following a hard act.

Needs to Be a Positive-Return Project

Mayor Hans Olav Sundfør in Lillehammer is also enthusiastic but emphasizes the city must be careful not to overspend.

“For us, everything depends on whether we can find a sustainable model. It has to be financially viable,” Sundfør stated clearly. However, he wants Lillehammer to enter into a dialogue with Trondheim to analyze the results of this year’s World Championship.

“We need to learn from their experience — what worked and what didn’t. We have to figure out how to host major events in a cost-effective and financially sustainable way. At the same time, we want big events in Lillehammer. That’s how we can justify maintaining our sports facilities,” Sundfør said.

The Good and the Challenging Takeaways

Right after a World Championship, it’s usually the positive memories that stick the most, and Trondheim’s mayor highlights the electric atmosphere at Granåsen. But hosting a World Championship also comes with financial risk and uncertainty.

“The positive aspects were definitely felt by everyone in Trondheim. The city was in a state of euphoria, and you saw happy, smiling people everywhere. The electric vibe was probably the most significant highlight,” said Kent Ranum.

“As for the challenges — there’s no doubt it’s tough to host a championship in today’s economic climate. The lack of state funding for security and rising prices have been difficult elements. But we found good solutions,” he added.

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