2026 Virtus World Short Track Championship Kicks Off at Ourense, Spain

The 2026 Virtus World Short Track Championship officially opened today at Expourense (Ourense, Spain), welcoming the global Virtus community for a weekend of world-class competition in an atmosphere full of pride, tradition, and inclusion.

The ceremony began with the arrival of authorities and the parade of delegations, led by the Real Banda de Gaitas of the Ourense Provincial Council, followed by athletes from competing teams, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, France, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Sweden, Turkey, Ukraine, the Neutral Team, and Spain.

After the musical performance and the official presentation video, institutional speeches highlighted the championship’s meaning for both sport and society. Expourense celebrated hosting its first Athletics World Championship and underlined the venue’s ambition to be among Europe’s top indoor tracks — a place ready to witness exceptional performances and records.

Representing the Xunta de Galicia, the Territorial Delegate emphasised that for the next few days, Ourense becomes a meeting point for athletes, coaches, families, volunteers and fans, sharing one message: high-performance sport has no labels, and effort and ambition break barriers. The speech also reinforced Galicia’s commitment to inclusion and support policies.

The ceremony also featured a special moment to mark the 40th anniversary of Virtus, reinforcing the event’s legacy and international impact.

More information about the championship (schedule and results) is available on the official event page at feddi.org.