Bardonecchia begins to lay foundations ahead of landmark 2029 World Championships

Bardonecchia’s first site inspection has set the tone for 2029 and what will be a sporting spectacle built on proximity, unity, and a togetherness that has been the cornerstone of growth in winter sports.  

Nestled in the mountains on the outskirts of Turin, this small town has its own longstanding history with the snow. The chosen location for snowboarding at the 2006 Winter Olympics, it has also recently been added to the stops for the upcoming 2026/27 Para Snowboard World Cup.  

In three years’ time, though, locals will be welcoming athletes from all three Para disciplines, with Alpine and Cross-Country entering the fold for the 2029 World Championships.  

With the dust now settled on a truly memorable Winter Paralympics at Milano Cortina, planning is now full steam ahead for the next four-year cycle, with Bardonecchia at the heart of it.  

What will make the upcoming event unique will be the coming together of these disciplines on a major international stage. This has not been possible before, meaning there are still plenty of logistics to iron out over the course of the next three seasons.  

“Para snow sports are one big family and events like the World Championships provide a unique opportunity to bring everyone together in one place,” said Boštjan Anderlič, Para Snow Sports Coordinator at FIS.  

“The World Championships in Bardonecchia will enable athletes, coaches, and staff to socialize and learn about other Para snow sports disciplines and strengthen the sense of unity within the community.  

“It will create a special atmosphere where athletes can cheer for their national team members across different sports and support each other throughout the event. Living together in the same athletes’ village will offer a unique experience, allowing participants from different nations and disciplines to exchange knowledge, share experiences, and build new friendships.” 

The vision is clear: To bring these disciplines together into one shared environment, creating an atmosphere that will strengthen the snow sports community from within. With excitement brewing and planning beginning, Bardonecchia could set a new standard for multi-discipline Para events.  

Bardonecchia: Next steps and challenges 

With the location confirmed, focus has turned to the practical side of delivering a multi-discipline World Championships. Bardonecchia already has foundations, given its history, but the scale of such an event will require a monumental effort from all involved over the next three seasons to prepare it. 

The Local Organizing Committee (LOC) has already been established and, together with the regional and city administrations, have developed an “excellent” working relationship. It is providing the backbone for effective planning, decision making, and infrastructure development.  

All competitions will be organized within Bardonecchia or its surrounding areas, with all teams benefiting from staying at the designated Olympic Village. As a result, athletes, coaches, officials, and support staff will be together in a close-knit environment that will have all necessary services available to them.  

“The village atmosphere will also encourage social interaction and strengthen the sense of community among participants,” Boštjan added.  

“The compact approach will improve the athlete experience, reduce transportation requirements, and make it easier for teams to support competitors across multiple disciplines.” 

While the Championships will focus heavily on three core disciplines, there may also be opportunities to promote other Para winter sports including Ice Hockey, Skating, and Wheelchair Curling to help increase awareness and attract new audiences.  

Before that, however, there are many milestones on the horizon that must be achieved before 2029. Below, Boštjan details what the next steps in the planning process are:  

• Establish a dedicated organizing committee structure for each sport 

• Finalize the exact venue locations and course layouts for Para Snowboard 

• Confirm the venues and race formats for Cross-Country Skiing, with the possibility of a city sprint race 

• Conduct two official site visits per year with FIS representatives, organizers, technical experts, and local authorities to review progress 

• Organize test events in all disciplines during 2027 and 2028 to evaluate operations, timing systems, venue readiness, volunteer programs, and safety procedures  

• Build upon the existing competition calendar to provide an opportunity to gain operational experience and collect feedback 

While there are strong foundations and a clear pathway in place, the road to 2029 comes with its share of technical and logistical challenges. One of the “most significant” hurdles to overcome is organizing Alpine Downhill events.  

“These races require extensive safety infrastructure, including nets, barriers, course preparation, and emergency response systems,” Boštjan explained.  

“In addition, the weather conditions can have a significant impact on training schedules, race preparation, and competition delivery.  

Bringing together all of these disciplines within a single framework will be the biggest challenge of all and something that requires careful and coordinated planning: “Efficient venue management, transportation systems, workforce planning, and communication structures will be essential to ensure a seamless and high-quality experience for all participants.”    

Looking ahead to the World Championships 2027 

Before Bardonecchia comes the 2027 World Championships, which will be held across three countries. Here is how the schedule looks:  

• FIS Para Cross-Country World Championships  
  Finsterau, Germany 
  27-31 January 2027 

• FIS Para Alpine Skiing World Championships  
  Tignes, France 
  8-16 March 2027 

• FIS Para Snowboard World Championships  
  Mont-Sainte-Anne, Canada 
  15-21 March 2027 

The turn of the new year marks the beginning of a new Paralympic cycle, with athletes as focused as ever on maintaining high performance levels that have been achieved through various stages of competition, including Milano Cortina 2026.  

These upcoming Championships will be the culmination of the new season, one with fresh challenges and new chances to learn and grow on the snow. Given its vast geographical spread, teams will face different challenges to ensure each athlete has their needs met for their respective disciplines.  

Having said that, however, Boštjan believes these events will still “showcase the continued growth and development of Para snow sports worldwide.” 

He concluded: “I’m really looking forward to seeing athletes, coaches, and officials come together once again to compete at the highest level. Together, they can inspire future generations and demonstrate what makes the Para snow sports community so special.”