IFA 2021 Women’s World Championship moves on short notice to Austria – U18 & Women’s World Champs now in Grieskirchen at the same time – “We hope the teams appreciate the offer to be able to have World Champs at all.”
It had already become clear that it would be difficult to conduct the IFA 2021 Fistball Women’s World Championships in Switzerland in mid-July. As yesterday’s decisions by the Swiss authorities did not bring any significant changes, the organizers in Jona have declared that they are not available to host the World Championships under the current conditions. The International Fistball Association (IFA) has been working on a replacement solution for the last few days and is awarding the World Championships to Austria at short notice.
“Our Fistball friends in Jona, whom we would like to thank very much for their commitment, have tried in close exchange with the responsible authorities to find a viable solution for the Women’s World Championships. It is with great regret that we have to acknowledge that hosting the Women’s World Championship in Switzerland is not possible,” said IFA President Jörn Verleger.
The direction was already clear since Saturday, May 15, after a coordination between IFA, Swiss Faustball (SF) and the local organizing team (OC). A hosting of the Fistball Women’s World Championships in July 2021 in Jona can not take place due to the epidemiological pandemic and the associated regulatory requirements with high probability.
Further decisions from the Swiss authorities announced for May 26 also did not bring any improvements. IFA, SF and OC have therefore come to the joint, final decision not to hold the 2021 World Championships in Jona after a renewed consultation.
“Our hearts are bleeding,” said OC head Martin Grögli. Numerous sponsors and partners had wanted to support the project after the World Championship already had to be moved from Chile to Europe at the end of 2020 due to the pandemic.
Grieskirchen steps in
“We are very grateful to the organizing team of the U18 World Championships and the club of our IFA Secretary General Christoph Oberlehner for considering an additional takeover of the Women’s World Champs at very short notice. This is very special,” said Verleger.
“We have complied with the request in order to offer the women’s teams – under the safety concepts that apply and have proven themselves in Austria – an international competition opportunity,” said IFA Secretary General Christoph Oberlehner, who is also the head of the Fistball section at UFG Sparkasse Grieskirchen/Pötting.
New date: July 28 to August 1
Grieskirchen will now host the female and male U18 World Championships, the U21 European Championships, and the Women’s World Championships simultaneously from Wednesday, July 28 to Sunday August 1. The U18 World Championship and U21 European Championship will remain unchanged on the previous date from July 29.
“Of course, the date shift may mean that there may still be changes to the field of participants,” said IFA Sports Commission Chairman Winnie Kronsteiner. “We understand that the situation for the teams is difficult, but on the other hand we hope that the joy of being able to play the World Championship at all will prevail with the teams. We also consider the hosting of the World Championship as a necessary offer for the national teams to focus on a highlight and get back into international play.”
The next Women’s World Championship is not expected to take place until 2024 due to the 2022 World Games, and the 2023 Men’s World Cup.
“Six years between the last Women’s World Championship in Linz in 2018 and the World Championship in 2024 was not an option for us,” Kronsteiner said. Previously, Switzerland had also analyzed moving the event to the fall of 2021, as well as holding a category B World Championship in 2022.
“We will publish more details in the upcoming days and would like to encourage all teams to prepare for the 2021 Fistball World Championships in Austria,” said IFA Secretary General Christoph Oberlehner, who is glad that they can offer a stage for women’s Fistball as well.
