01.08.2022
In one year's time, Bern will become the Mecca of the sport climbing world: the World Championships in climbing and paraclimbing will take place in front of a spectacular backdrop in the PostFinance Arena.
One year from today, the starting signal will be given for the IFSC Climbing World Championships 2023 in Bern. From 1 to 12 August 2023, the international sport climbing elite with around 750 athletes will gather in the PostFinance Arena for the World Championships. The world championships in paraclimbing, climbing for people with disabilities, will also be held in the middle of it all. In addition to the spectacle of the World Championships with 8,000 spectators in the arena and an extensive supporting programme outside, there will be a very special sporting highlight: in addition to the medals for the world championship titles, the first starting places for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris will be awarded in Bern.
At the latest with Tokyo 2020 and the inclusion of the sport in the Olympic Games programme, a climbing euphoria has also been sparked in Switzerland. For the Swiss Alpine Club SAC, the organiser of the World Championships, there is therefore a unique opportunity next year. “Sport climbing is currently experiencing a great hype both nationally and internationally. With the home World Championships in August 2023, we have the unique opportunity to make this great sport even better known to the entire Swiss population,” says Andreas Schweizer, member of the SAC Central Board and president of the “World Championships Sport Climbing 2023” association, which was founded especially for the World Championships and commissioned with the organisation.
The championships will last a total of 12 days. Up to 8,000 spectators will watch the 7 final days of the competition in the disciplines Lead, Boulder and Speed as well as the combined Olympic format “Boulder&Lead”. The most successful athletes in the Speed and Boulder&Lead disciplines will not only win World Championship medals but also the first starting places for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. Admission to the qualifications, which will take place in the nearby curling hall, is free of charge. Tickets for the final competitions are already available from December this year.
The expectations and anticipation of the Swiss athletes are great. For Andrea Kümin, local hero from Ostermundigen, the clock can’t tick fast enough: “The World Championships practically on our own doorstep, in what we hope will be a full hall with a unique atmosphere, with the best athletes in the world – this will be my absolute career highlight and I will give everything to be in top form.”
The most successful paraclimbers will also compete in the lead discipline at the 2023 World Championships in Sport Climbing. The athletes will be divided into different categories according to the type and degree of their handicap and will show their impressive skills on the climbing wall. The fact that the World Paraclimbing Championships in Bern are integrated into the World Sport Climbing Championships and not, as is often the case, on the fringes, is a strong sign of inclusion. The area will be made as barrier-free as possible.
In addition to the sporting highlights, there will be a family-friendly adventure village with activities and attractions for all ages and interests during the final days directly in front of the arena. The curious can immerse themselves in the world of climbing and outdoor sports and eat at one of the numerous food stands. Concerts and medal celebrations will round off the programme in the evening after the competitions. In cooperation with Bern Welcome, an extensive programme will be put together for all visitors and delegation members to explore the host city and the region. The official delegations alone are expected to bring around 14,000 overnight stays to Bern.
As is well known, the opening of the 2023 World Championships in Sport Climbing in Bern falls on Swiss National Day. On the occasion of today’s “One year to go” countdown, a climbing wall in the form of an air castle and a bouldering cube with competition opportunities will be set up on the Bundesplatz in Bern as part of the federal celebrations. Over the next twelve months, various activities for the population will be realised to make the sport better known before the start of the home World Cup on 1 August 2023.