The vote showed that Planica stood no realistic chance despite the optimism ahead of the congress. It took three rounds of voting to declare the host, but Planica already got only three votes in the first round. Oberstdorf got eight and Seefeld six. Planica's votes went to Austria in the final round.

Slovenians expected a close contest between Oberstdorf and Planica, but "apparently different interests won," Primož Finžgar of Slovenia's delegation said.

President of the Slovenian Ski Association (SZS) Enzo Smrekar meanwhile said that today's decision was a discouragement for small countries's candidacies. "It doesn't bode well for skiing if small countries get the feeling that they stand no chance," he added.

Janez Kocijančič, Slovenia's member of the FIS presidency, was also critical of the decision and pointed out that Planica had been promised more votes than it actually got.

"Many promised. I believe that the decision was made on the basis of economic interest and it is sad to realise that they did not vote in the interest of sport," he stressed.

Planica's success would also have financial consequences for the SZS as FIS would earmark EUR 8.75m to the organisers for marketing and broadcasting rights alone.

This is the second time Planica was left empty-handed. In 2012, participants of the FIS congress in South Korea voted to award the organisation of the 2017 Nordic World Championships to Lahti, Finland.

Whether Slovenia will try again remains to be seen and will be decided "when heads cool down," according to Finžgar.