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Editors

Sporting spectacle, financial debacle: SAC reworks Climbing World Championship

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In August 2023, Bern hosted the Climbing World Championships. The major event thrilled the masses, but at the same time tore a huge hole in the Swiss Alpine Club's coffers, costing 1,7 million Swiss francs. The SAC has commissioned a renowned law firm to investigate how this could have happened.

According to SRF, the Climbing World Championships in Bern resulted in a deficit of 1,7 million francs for the Swiss Alpine Club. A financial debacle that the SAC had externally investigated. The non-public report, which Radio SRF has, however, does not cast a good light on the SAC and the association that organized the Climbing World Championships.

In short: the two organizers were not in a position to hold such a large-scale event. Failures, omissions, wrong decisions and unfortunate circumstances were numerous and varied.

The Climbing World Championships in Berne attracted a lot of attention to the sport of climbing, but also caused a major deficit for the SAC. Image: Jan Virt / IFSC
The Climbing World Championships in Berne attracted a lot of attention to the sport of climbing, but also caused a major deficit for the SAC. Image: Jan Virt / IFSC

The report concludes that no one is solely to blame for the World Cup debacle. The then SAC managing director and head of the World Cup organization did not comment on the issue to SRF. His successor Bernhard Aregger emphasized the importance of having fulfilled its obligations during the process of coming to terms with the situation. "The SAC has taken responsibility and all outstanding items have been settled accordingly."

The Climbing World Championships meant that the SAC had to close the 2023 financial year with a loss. Bernhard Aregger told SRF that he was confident that the loss could be made up in the near future.

The victory of bouldering veteran Mickael Mawem, the farewell of Petra Klingler - the World Championships in Bern caused great emotions in many ways. Image: Jan Virt / IFSC
The victory of bouldering veteran Mickael Mawem, the farewell of Petra Klingler – the World Championships in Bern caused great emotions in many ways. Image: Jan Virt / IFSC

IFSC World Cup Bern without direct SAC participation

As the International Sport Climbing Federation (IFSC) announced last autumn, the 2025 World Cup series will make a stop in Bern, specifically at the Bernexpo exhibition grounds. "I am sure that it will be an all-round great experience that will make the sport even more popular," Bernhard Aregger was quoted as saying in the press release at the time.

It is unclear how motivated the SAC is today to host another major event. According to Bernexpo, the SAC is not directly involved in hosting the World Cup, but is available in an advisory capacity.

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