The COVID19 pandemic has added some unique challenges to the organization of a large international competition. Despite the uncertainties, we have been liaising closely with the FIS and our National and Provincial Sport Organizations and are encouraged that they are very supportive of our path to hosting the 2023 World Junior / U23 Championships. The FIS has confirmed that Zakopane, Poland will host the 2021 Nordic Junior World Ski Championships and Oberstdorf, Germany will be hosting the 2021 Nordic World Ski Championships.
An analysis of the economic impact of this 2023 event utilizing the Sport Tourism Economic Assessment Model (STEAM) demonstrates the significant net economic benefit of our event. This analysis suggests that this event will inject almost $15 million dollars into the Canadian economy with $12.4 million of this in British Columbia and $10.9 million within the Sea to Sky Corridor. This work has been foundational to our grant applications to government. We now have a comprehensive Business Plan and are in discussions with several levels of the provincial and federal government in regard to gaining financial support, including:
- British Columbia Major Sport Event Grant
- Sport Canada International Single Sport Event Grant
- Regional District Gas Tax Capital Grant
We are also pursuing Provincial Gaming Capital funding as well as working closely with Squamish and Whistler to potentially access event funding.
Nordiq Canada has awarded the January 2021 World Junior Trials competition to the Local Organizing Committee and our Competition Committee has been formed to organize this important event at Whistler Olympic Park. We are also pursuing hosting a December 2021 Continental Cup (North America wide Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined competition) and the March 2022 Nordic Nationals.
Support for our event continues to grow with formal Letters of Support received from Provincial MLA (West Vancouver – Sea to Sky) Jordan Sturdy, Federal PM (West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country) Patrick Weiler, Mayor Jack Crompton of Whistler, District of Squamish Mayor Karen Elliott, Chair Tony Rainbow of the Squamish Lillooet Regional District and Métis Nation British Columbia President Clara Morin Dal Col.
Please browse through our website – www.wjc2023.ca – to see more detail on our progress.
Norman Laube
Chairperson – Local Organizing Committee
Black Tusk Nordic Events Society
2023 Squamish-Whistler
FIS Nordic Junior/U23 Cross Country World Ski Championships www.wjc2023.ca
