The UCI Cycling and Para-Cycling Road World Championships Zurich 2024 report a deficit of 4.5 million Swiss francs (approx. 4.7 million euros). Although the organisation of the World Championships from 21 to 29 September 2024 generated income of around 19 million Swiss francs, expenditure was significantly higher than expected at 23.5 million Swiss francs. In particular, costs for securing the route were higher than planned, as were payments to the Cycling World Federation and the repair of weather damage. "At the same time, income was lower than expected due to the partly weather-related low sales figures in the areas of catering, merchandising and ticketing. The media controversy surrounding the road closures also had a negative impact, causing potential sponsors to be very cautious. This was compounded by the cancellation of events at short notice due to the regrettable Death", reads a statement. The World Cycling Championships were overshadowed by the tragic accidental death of young Swiss rider Muriel Furrer.
Organiser of the Zurich 2024 World Cycling Championships hopes for rescue
The organising association has applied to the competent court for a provisional debt-restructuring moratorium, which has already been granted. In Switzerland, this procedure makes it possible to counteract the threat of bankruptcy by means of a reorganisation plan. The organisation has applied for financial support from the public purse in order to restructure and settle outstanding creditor claims. CHF 2 million of the deficit has already been covered because the cantonal government is not demanding repayment of its 2023 bridging contribution from the sports fund. The organiser of the World Cycling Championships has applied to the City of Zurich to waive the loan of CHF 2 million also granted in 2023 and to grant an additional credit to cover the remaining deficit. This would require a decision by the municipal council.
Losses also in Scotland 2023
There have also been deficits at cycling world championships in the past. At 75 million euros, the costs of the World Championships in Glasgow 2022 were around 20 per cent higher than planned and forced Scotland to pay several million euros in additional support. In 2024, the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) published a study carried out by the consultancy firm EY, which estimates the socio-economic benefits of the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships in Glasgow and Scotland. The event, which took place from 3 to 13 August 2023, was the largest cycling event to date and brought together 13 UCI World Championships of various disciplines in one region. Over 7,100 athletes from 131 nations took part and competed for 220 world championship titles. The study shows that the World Championships were not only a great success in sporting terms, but also economically and socially.
Economic impact of the Glasgow 2023 World Cycling Championships
The 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships had a significant positive impact on the Scottish economy. According to the EY study, the event generated an economic output of over £205 million (€243 million) for Scotland. In addition, the equivalent of 5285 jobs were created over the course of a year. These figures emphasise the importance of major sporting events as an economic factor for the host regions.
The study revealed that almost one million spectators watched the competitions on site. A third of them travelled from outside Scotland, including around 90,000 international visitors. The media reach was also impressive: the World Championships were broadcast on 93 channels in 130 countries, totalling 14,000 hours of airtime. Worldwide, 200 million hours of programmes were watched, with over 80 million viewers in Europe alone watching the competitions.
Background World Cycling Championships Zurich 2024
The UCI Cycling and Para-Cycling Road World Championships Zurich 2024 were held in the canton and city of Zurich from 21-29 September 2024. Including the para-cyclists, 1300 riders from more than 75 countries took part in the nine-day major sporting event. The UCI Road World Championships and the UCI Para-Cycling Road World Championships are held annually, but usually separately. The former are watched by over 300 million television viewers worldwide. Locally, 1.2 million spectators stood at the roadside to watch the races.
Kristian Bauer
Editor
