Lahti To Host 2017 FIS Nordic Ski World Championships

26 June 2012

Lahti has been awarded its seventh hosting of the Nordic Ski World Championship. The International Ski Federation (FIS) decided to go with the experienced host city in Kangwonland, South Korea in late May. With Lahti, the other three finalists were Planica in Slovenia, Zakopane in Poland and Germany’s Obertsdorf. Lahti beat Planica in the crucial final vote with a 12-3 result.

Lahti applied the hosting of the World Championship, that is held every other year, with Hiihtoliitto and LHS, the local ski association. Unlike before however, the city of Helsinki is also taking part in the activities, possibly being a host of some of the events. The year 2017 also marks the 100th anniversary of Finnish independence and the organizers expect to make the event greenest in history and attract around a million visitors including ”at least 425,000” to the stadiums.

A tradition to cherish
- Having the World Championships in Lahti is a remarkable accomplishment. The tradition of the most experienced host city is to continue, said Lahti Mayor Jyrki Myllyvirta from South Korea.

-Our concept has a lot of new elements to it. With the 2017 World Championships we can turn to a new page in our book; reinvent how the events are organized, how the spectators are being participated and how the new technological innovations are utilized.

-Hopefully the championships being held here at home will mark a new kickstart for ski sports in Finland, Myllyvirta concludes.

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