As has just been announced in a live joint statement between Marcel Weigl, President of Racketlon Federation Austria (RFA) and Duncan Stahl (FIR), this year’s planned World Championships for singles, doubles and teams in Vienna and Graz this August has had to be cancelled. 
With Austria still in a hard lockdown and the situation re international travel this August still hugely uncertain, it is unrealistic to still plan for a tournament that would involve up to 500 players from 30 different countries. The ongoing uncertainty caused by corona just makes it impossible to be able to put in the amount of planning and work that is necessary to make a world championships work. With only 4 months to go until the start of the tournament it is better to give everyone some certainty now about the situation.
15. SWT Grawe side-by-side Austrian Open 2021
The RFA have however confirmed that they will still be able to hold an Austrian Open in Graz as a Super World Tour from 27th – 29th August 2021. If existing corona restrictions still apply then this tournament may only be for elite players (as with the 2020 Austrian Open), but if restrictions have been lifted sufficiently then the tournament would be open for other categories.
2022 World Championships in Vienna & Graz
The FIR is delighted to confirm that next year’s world championships will take place in Austria in exactly the same format as was planned for this year: in Vienna and Graz from 19th until 28th August 2022 for singles, doubles and teams…with ambitious plans to make it the biggest Racketlon tournament in the sport’s history.
Still Hope for a Singles & Doubles World Championships in 2021
The FIR also stated that they are now looking into the possibility of hosting a downscaled, re-organised world championships, for singles and doubles only, at a later date in the year. The singles and doubles would be separate events on different dates at different locations and more news about this will hopefully be announced in the next few weeks. But a teams world championships will not be possible in 2021.
To see the full announcement, please go to the link below:
Link: Stream Press Statement – Facebook
Duncan Stahl / FIR President
