German Ski Association wants Nordic World Championships 2031 in Oberstdorf

The German Ski Association is bidding for the 2031 World Ski Jumping, Cross-Country Skiing and Nordic Combined Championships with Oberstdorf. Alternatively, a bid with Oberwiesenthal and Klingenthal in Saxony would also have been possible. According to the DSV, the decision in favour of the location in Bavaria was made in a joint vote by the organizers.

"After jointly weighing up the German bid opportunities and carefully examining the infrastructural requirements for hosting the World Championships, we have agreed to a German bid with Oberstdorf as the location," Heiko Krause, President of the Saxony Ski Association, was quoted as saying in a DSV statement. "However, it remains our goal to bring the Nordic World Ski Championships to Saxony in the foreseeable future."

German chances are good

Originally, a German bid was planned for 2033. However, because the Austrian venues of Ramsau and Bischofshofen are no longer bidding for 2031, the DSV has changed its strategy. The shorter preparation time speaks in favor of Oberstdorf, which already hosted the World Championships in 1987, 2005 and 2021. The title fights four years ago in the middle of the corona pandemic went down in history as a ghost World Championships without spectators.

The contract for 2031 is to be awarded in around a year's time. Its rival is Planica in Slovenia, which only hosted the World Championships in 2023. Germany's chances of winning the bid are considered good.