The first ever IBU endurance award to Finland

The Finnish competition of the Biathlon World Cup tour in Kontiolahti has received the endurance award of the International Biathlon Union IBU for the first time.

IBU's "Award for Excellence in Sustainability" was established last year to encourage IBU events in sustainability and climate work. The purpose of the award is to emphasize the activity of event organizers towards the goals of the IBU's sustainability strategy 2020-2030.

The tight competition for the 10,000 euro prize was decided by Kontiolahti's comprehensive approach to responsibility work. Sweden's Östersund competed closely with Kontiolahti for the prize.

"Environmental issues have also become more prominent in Kontiolahti in recent years, when we have built the Ekokompassi environmental system. But responsibility and sustainable operations take social and economic sustainability into account in addition to the environment," says Kontiolahti World Cup environmental manager Sari Jormanainen.

Kontiolahti's strengths were seen as the reduction of travel and transport emissions by means of public transport and the use of renewable diesel fuel in flatbed machines. Other merits were, for example, free entry to the event for children under the age of 12, as well as the scalability and simplicity of the operating principles.

The World Cup application strengthens responsibility work

Jormanainen says that responsibility and the principles of sustainable development will also be emphasized in the coming years.

"Since 2018, we have been committed to continuous improvement of our operations. Responsibility in environmental matters, administration as well as in other issues related to the sport are common goals of the IBU and our event organizers."

The same themes will also be highlighted in the application process for the upcoming World Cup. In September, the IBU will decide whether the 2027 World Championships will be held in Kontiolahti in Finland or Otepää in Estonia.

"There is never a finish line in responsibility and environmental work. The World Cup search is one big factor in pushing the organizers to do even better. We, in turn, believe that with our own work we will strengthen the entire international biathlon family", says Kontiolahti World Cup events manager Sami Leinonen.