Last winter’s FIS Nordic World Ski Championships (Feb 26–Mar 9, 2025) in Trondheim were expected to be a crowning success for Norwegian skiing both on and off the snow. While Norwegian athletes performed strongly on the world stage, the financial aftermath has overshadowed the sporting achievements and now continues to unfold with new consequences for the sport’s future in Norway.

From Expected Surplus to Major Deficit

Organizers originally projected a profit for the event, with forecasts anticipating roughly a NOK 20 million surplus to help fund grassroots skiing programs and federation activities. However, later financial reviews revealed that instead of a surplus, the organizing company — Ski-VM Trondheim 2025 AS — faced a significant deficit and lacked clarity over its finances. In May 2025, the company halted payments to its creditors while it sought to assess the full scale of its losses, an extraordinary step for such a high-profile event.

Debt and Creditors: A Complex Picture

At a June meeting with creditors and stakeholders, it emerged that claims against the organization could total over NOK 134 million (about €11.4 million). Meanwhile, assets and receivables — including ticket revenue and VAT claims — were estimated at around NOK 85 million, revealing a gap that transformed anticipated profits into deep losses. Factors cited for the deficit included:

• Unexpected and higher-than-budgeted invoices for services such as transport, security and timing systems.

• Lower than expected on-site sales, attributed partly to challenging weather conditions.

• A shortfall in ticket revenue compared with internal budget projections.

Emergency Bail-Out Plan

By July 2025, after weeks of negotiations, Ski-VM avoided formal bankruptcy through a bail-out agreement with creditors. Under the arrangement:

• Smaller creditors (owed NOK 40,000 or less) will be fully reimbursed.

• Larger creditors will receive partial payments upfront and additional smaller payments later.

• The city of Trondheim agreed to support the plan, helping settle larger claims and prevent a bankruptcy that could have meant even greater losses for creditors.

Broader Ripples Through Norwegian Skiing

The episode has implications beyond the books of one event:

• Reputation concerns: The deficit and the earlier ski jumping scandal — where jumpers were disqualified for equipment manipulation — damaged public confidence in the championship’s management and oversight.

• Financial stress on the Norwegian Ski Federation: As a principal owner of the organizing company (60 % stake) and one of its creditors, the federation has signalled potential budget cuts and restructuring within its own operations — including possible layoffs and scaling back costly events.

• Future events in jeopardy: Financial strain from the 2025 Championships has reportedly affected bids and plans for upcoming junior and U23 World Ski Championships originally scheduled for Trondheim, with authorities considering relocating those events due to ongoing fiscal challenges.

Looking Ahead

The Trondheim World Championships will be remembered for outstanding athletic performances, but also as a cautionary tale of how large-scale sporting events can veer from expected success into financial uncertainty. For Norwegian skiing, the focus now turns to managing the debt legacy, safeguarding grassroots support, and restoring confidence in event planning and governance.

Timeline

February–March 2025
Nordic World Ski Championships take place in Trondheim
The FIS Nordic World Ski Championships are held at Granåsen, attracting large crowds and strong TV audiences. Sporting results are excellent, particularly for Norway.
March 2025
Early signs of financial strain
Behind the scenes, organizers begin reconciling costs and invoices. Some suppliers report delayed payments.
May 30, 2025
Financial crisis becomes public
Norwegian media reveal that the organizing company Ski-VM Trondheim 2025 AS has halted payments to creditors while assessing its financial position.
June 2025
Deficit far larger than expected
Creditor claims reportedly exceed NOK 130 million, while available assets fall well short. What was expected to be a surplus turns into a major shortfall.
June–July 2025
Emergency negotiations
Talks begin between creditors, the Norwegian Ski Federation, and local authorities to avoid bankruptcy and limit damage.
July 2025
Bankruptcy avoided
A rescue plan is agreed: smaller creditors are fully paid, larger ones accept partial repayment. The Trondheim municipality steps in to stabilize the situation.
Late 2025 – 2026
Long-term consequences
The financial fallout affects federation budgets, future event planning, and confidence in hosting large winter sports events in Norway.

Read more on NewsinEnglish.no, Nordicmag.info, Swedenherald.com