Bern has been awarded the 2023 IFSC Climbing and Paraclimbing World Championships ©IFSC

Bern has been awarded the 2023 International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC) Climbing and Paraclimbing World Championships.

The decision was taken on the opening day of the IFSC Plenary Assembly, which was held virtually.

The Swiss capital was one of three candidates to host the World Championships, with their bid presented by Swiss Alpine Club President Françoise Jacquet.

Bern received a total of 28 votes from the IFSC members, with South Korea’s capital Seoul trailing on nine votes.

Chongqing in China received seven votes.

The World Championships is the pinnacle competition of the IFSC calendar and takes place every two years.

Hachioji in Japan hosted last year’s event, while Russia’s capital Moscow is set to host the 2021 event.

The IFSC also welcomed six new member federations and outlined its strategic plan for the next eight years.

Sport Climbing Fiji and the Uganda Sport Climbing Federation were confirmed as continental members, replacing the existing Fiji Mountaineering and Climbing Association and the Nepal Mountaineering Association when their membership concludes.

The membership of Österreich Alpenverein (OAV), representing Austria, will also cease in 2021.

The IFSC Plenary Assembly is being held virtually ©IFSC
The IFSC Plenary Assembly is being held virtually ©IFSC

The IFSC welcomed Malta Sport for All, Mauritius Sport Climbing Federation, Nepal Climbing Sport Association and Saudi Climbing and Hiking Federation as full members.

The Assembly also approved the transition of the Federation Deportiva Peruana de Escalada, representing Peru, from continental to full membership.

A total of 94 National Federations are now members of the IFSC, including eight in Africa, 23 in Asia, 44 in Europe, three in Oceania and 16 in Pan America.

The IFSC said its strategic plan was revised following the postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

The governing body said its vision is “to make the world a better place through sport climbing,” while its mission is “to grow the sport climbing community and to foster the furtherance of sport climbing worldwide.”

The IFSC said its key objectives are to showcase sport climbing through events, develop the sport, strengthen membership and governance, increase IFSC brand awareness, and promote sport climbing globally.