Seefeld conclusively closes the chapter on the 2019 World Championships

The background story was indeed a long one: On March 3, 2019, at 3:14 PM, the last runner of the final 50-kilometer cross-country race, Greek Alex Vanias, crossed the finish line, marking the end of the 52nd Nordic Ski World Championships in Seefeld. Countless celebrating fans and a joyful atmosphere remained under the shining sun. However, soon dark clouds loomed as debts and potential high repayment obligations for grants came into play. The WM mayor Werner Frießer resigned in June 2021 for personal reasons. His successor Markus Wackerle was unable to find a solution. After his resignation in October 2023, the entire Seefeld municipal council was dissolved on November 28, 2023. The WM venue fell under official administration, and the sun and good mood seemed to have vanished.

In February 2024, only one courageous candidate, Andrea Neuner, stepped up for the new elections, believing she could tackle the mess of WM debts. The tourism association and its supervisory board were aware of the importance of the sports infrastructure for the region and were always striving to find a good solution for its preservation and further planned operation. With the establishment of the new municipal council on March 11, 2024, nothing stood in the way from the municipality's side anymore. "Everyone immediately pulled together," recalls Walser. "As a result, we were able to quickly work out a solution." Indeed, by summer 2024, the municipality, TVB, and the WM sports facilities Seefeld-Tirol GmbH presented a first draft. In the agreement, the TVB declared its readiness to convert a previously given loan into an investment grant and to take on an additional approximately 1.4 million euros in WM grants. In return, the municipality and the WM sports facilities Seefeld-Tirol GmbH transferred the Technical Center built for the WM to the tourism association. This is now using the complex, among other things, as a construction yard, but also complies with the operational requirements stipulated in the WM funding agreements until December 31, 2040.

"The close and very good cooperation between TVB and the municipality enables this favorable solution for all parties," explains Neuner. The money flowed in August 2024, and the agreements were signed by all parties around the turn of the year 2024/25. "There followed almost a year and a half of anxious waiting," admits Walser. "Because without the approval from the Financial Procuratorate, the agreement would have been worthless." Now this approval has been granted, and everyone is happy. "The best part is," laughs Neuner, "that I can finally drive to appointments at the country house relaxed again. The constant request to follow up in Vienna had become quite uncomfortable for me." Even Fuchs, who took over the management of the Sports Facilities Ltd. long after the World Championship, is glad that this agenda item "can finally be put to rest and we can look ahead."

Looking ahead also means continuing to be available for high-performance sports, large sporting events, and as a youth training center. Especially the latter is part of the requirements of the WM funding agreement from 2018. "We stand by this," says Schmid. However, the entrepreneur also critically points out that financing such requirements is not easy for small places. "State or even nationwide sports strategies must also consider long-term financing issues in the future."

Especially for cost-intensive facilities like ski jumping hills or large-scale ski trails that yield little income relative to operating expenses, not only the construction but also the maintenance and operation should be part of the funding strategies. "It is not easy for a community of 3,600 inhabitants like Seefeld to maintain such a large performance center." Without the TVB and the clever tourist use of the facilities, it wouldn't even be possible.

How the WM facilities will become a point of contact for everyone, including athletes, guests, and locals, and which projects TVB and the municipality will start for this purpose can be found, among other things, on the new website of Arena365: www.seefeld.com/arena365/.