Para Nordic World Cups Could Bring Over $1 Million to Canmore This December

Canmore will host two back-to-back Para Nordic World Cups this December, bringing athletes from up to 20 countries, more than 200 team officials, and over 200 volunteers to the Canmore Nordic Centre Provincial Park. The events, which include Para cross-country skiing from December 3 to 7 and Para biathlon from December 8 to 14, mark the opening World Cups of the Paralympic season.

Two World Cups, Three Athlete Categories

This year’s competition is split into two World Cups after the international federations for cross-country skiing and biathlon began operating their events independently. Both feature races in three athlete categories: sitting, standing, and vision-impaired. A formal classification process ensures athletes compete against others with comparable disability levels.

A late team entry from Mongolia pushed the field to approximately 120 to 125 athletes, with organizers confirming they accepted the request immediately. Teams began arriving in early November, with some expected to stay as long as two to seven weeks in the Bow Valley.

A Strong Volunteer Backbone

More than 200 volunteers are registered for the 11-day competition period, the majority from the Bow Valley, with others traveling from across Alberta. Organizers say the high volunteer turnout remains one of the region’s major strengths, reflecting long-standing local support for world-class winter sport events.

Events Aligned With International Day for People With Disabilities

The opening ceremony will take place on December 3, coinciding with the International Day for People with Disabilities. The timing allows the event to integrate with Canmore’s Disability Celebration Week, including a resource fair and collaborative programming led by local accessibility and inclusion partners.

Rocky Mountain Adaptive and the Calgary Adaptive Hub are also involved, helping promote participation, creating “try-it” opportunities such as sit-ski sessions, and connecting more than 100 adaptive sport organizations to the event.

Youth Engagement and Community Programming

Local schools will participate through athlete visits and the long-running “Adopt-a-Nation” initiative, which pairs classrooms with competing countries and displays student artwork in community spaces. Transportation funding has been secured to bring Bow Valley students to race days on December 4 and 11.

Economic Significance for Canmore

Hosting Para Nordic events in Canmore has consistently produced measurable economic benefits for the community. The most recent comparable event, held in early December 2021 at the Canmore Nordic Centre, generated an estimated 1.14 million dollars in total economic activity within Canmore, including 677,000 dollars in visitor spending and 425,000 dollars in local wages and salaries. This year’s events will again undergo an independent economic impact assessment.

Early athlete arrivals and extended team stays deliver additional value during the shoulder season, aligning closely with local and regional tourism strategies that aim to grow winter and mid-season visitation.

Long-Term Hosting Commitments

Canmore continues to be a preferred venue within the international Para sport circuit, supported by its established infrastructure, experienced volunteer base, and alignment with provincial tourism and sport priorities. Organizers note that bidding and preparation timelines stretch several years ahead, with events already scheduled through 2028 and bids underway into the early 2030s.

The 2025 World Cups continue a legacy of international competitions in the valley dating back two decades, reinforcing the Canmore Nordic Centre’s role as both a community recreation hub and a premier venue for global winter sport.