FIS cancels plans for extra Ski World Championship in 2028

The International Ski Federation (FIS) has abandoned plans to hold an ‘extra’ Ski World Championship as early as the 2027/28 season. While FIS leadership intends to increase the frequency of championships—aiming to hold them every year that does not feature an Olympic Games starting from 2032—the possibility of an accelerated event in 2028 has been scrapped.

A feasibility study commissioned by FIS concluded that the short timeframe for a 2028 championship would pose risks to execution quality and limit value creation. Despite this setback, the study supported the broader strategy of holding annual championships to increase the visibility and value of winter sports.

The proposal, championed by FIS President Alexander Ospelts, shares similarities with former president Johan Eliasch’s ‘FIS Games’ concept. However, the plan has faced criticism from German and Austrian ski federations. German representative Stefan Schwarzbach noted a lack of involvement from national federations, while the Austrian federation expressed skepticism regarding the plan’s sporting and strategic logic.