Park City Awarded 2029 Bobsled and Luge World Championships
IBSF names Utah Olympic Park as host at world congress in Lake Placid
Posted On: June 20, 2024 By :Park City, Utah, will host the 2029 Bobsled and Skeleton World Championships after the International Bobsleigh & Skeleton Federation voted on future hosts for its world championships during the world congress held in Lake Placid, New York.
Each of the championships from 2027 through 2029 will be at former Olympic Winter Games hosts. In 2027, the worlds will be in Lillehammer, Norway, before heading to St. Moritz, Switzerland, in 2028. Park City will host in 2029, five years ahead of its expected hosting of the 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Park City was voted as the host instead of Königssee, Germany, and Pyeongchang.
“We are thrilled to welcome the 2029 IBSF Bobsleigh and Skeleton World Championships to Utah Olympic Park,” Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation Chief Operating Officer Calum Clark said. “Utah is a prime destination for world-class events and this opportunity will greatly benefit Utah as the preferred host of the 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.”
Utah Olympic Park’s sliding track, built for the 2002 Games last hosted the IBSF Bobsled and Skeleton World Cup in December 2022. Overall, it has hosted 15 IBSF World Cups, six IBSF North America’s Cups and one IBSF Junior World Championships.
“Hosting the IBSF World Championships in 2029 presents an exceptional opportunity for the United States to showcase its commitment to the sports of bobsleigh and skeleton,” USA Bobsled/Skeleton Chief Executive Officer Aron McGuire said. “This honor offers our Team USA athletes and coaches a chance to compete on a world stage with home track advantages and fans.”
Utah Olympic Park’s bid included support from USA Bobsled/Skeleton, Utah Sports Commission, Park City’s Chamber of Commerce and the Salt Lake City-Utah Committee for the Games.
“Utah is truly the state of sport and a year-round destination for world-class events,” Utah Sports Commission President and Chief Executive Officer Jeff Robbins said. “We look forward to hosting the IBSF athletes and federations in 2029.”
The IBSF having its congress in Lake Placid came as the New York Olympic Regional Development Authority played a role in hosting and organizing the two International Federations and national bobsled, skeleton and luge federations that attended. Lake Placid underwent extensive renovations at all its winter sports venues over the past few years as part of preparations to host the 2023 World University Winter Games.
“The Olympic Authority was honored to host both the FIL and IBSF Congresses in Lake Placid this year,” said Rebecca Dayton, general manager at Mount VanHoevenberg. “This event presented a remarkable opportunity to highlight the substantial investments made by the state of New York in our world-class facilities. Moreover, the joint day of meetings between the FIL, IBSF, and track operators from around the globe was invaluable, allowing us to address the common challenges and opportunities faced by our sports in an increasingly competitive landscape.”
The village will host the 2025 International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation World Championships, its 11th time hosting the event overall. Last year it proposed that the sliding events of bobsled, luge and skeleton for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games be held in Lake Placid before organizers in Italy decided to renovate the Eugenio Monti artificial ice track in Cortina d’Ampezzo.
“The IBSF Congress in Lake Placid 2024 set a new standard for events,” said IBSF President Ivo Ferriani. “This was a true organizational achievement and an example of sustainability enabled by ORDA. I thank the organizing committee and especially all the congress participants for their contribution to a successful gongress in Lake Placid.”
Ferriani also honored Dragomir Cioroslan, director of international affairs at the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee, on behalf of the IBSF for his support of sliding sports in the United States.
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