Competition programs 2022-2026 decided: Kontiolahti will host the opening of the World Cup in 2022 and 2024 and the opening of the IBU Cup in 2023

Information from the Kontiolahti Sportsmen's Association and the Finnish Biathlon Union 12 February 2021

Finland and Kontiolahti will also host the Biathlon World Cup openings in 2022 and 2024. In November-December 2023, Kontiolahti will host the opening round of the IBU Cup.

The International Biathlon Union IBU announced the competition locations and schedules for the 2022-26 seasons in connection with the World Championships in Slovenia. In addition to the World Cup in March of the 2021-22 season, Finland and Kontiolahti get to organize the opening events of the World Cup season in the seasons 2022-23 and 2024-25. In 2023, Kontiolahti will host the opening of the IBU Cup.

─This is excellent news for Finnish biathlon and Kontiolahti as the race organizer. The current season's World Cups 1 and 2 in November-December were excellent in terms of competition technology and considering the corona restrictions. This can be seen in the confidence of the IBU to grant the hosting of the opening events to Finland for the years 2022 and 2024 as well, state the Executive Director of Kontiolahti Athletes Jarno Lautamatti and the Executive Director of the Finnish Biathlon Union Tapio Pukki.

Nine day openings

Three days have been reserved for the opening of the 2021 World Cup in November in Kontiolahti. There are four competition days in the March World Cup of the 2021/2022 season (updated on 31 May 2021). Seasons 2022-23 and In the 2024-25 program, nine days are reserved for events. The exact competition programs will be determined later.

Pukki and Lautamatti thank not only the content of the IBU's decisions, but also their schedule.

─Now we have information about the events of the coming years in good time. This brings certainty about the continuity of operations and gives us a lot of food to build the organization and, for example, partnerships with companies and other parties, Lautamatti says.

Info: Biathlon World Cup and IBU Cup events in Finland 2021-2024

• 26.-28.11.2021: Opening of the World Cup season, Kontiolahti (already decided) 3.-6.3.2022 World Cup, Kontiolahti (updated 31.5.2021)
• 26.11.-4.12.2022: Opening of the World Cup season, Kontiolahti
• 27.11.-3.12.2023: IBU Cup, season opening Kontiolahti
• 30.11.-8.12.2024: Opening of the World Cup season, Kontiolahti

More information:

• Finnish Biathlon Union, Kalle Lähdesmäki, chairman, 0500-363126
• Kontiolahti Athletes, Kimmo Turunen, chairman, 050-5633480
• Kontiolahti Athletes, Jarno Lautamatti, executive director, 043-218 0573
• Kontiolahti Athletes, Sami Leinonen, event manager, 050-5578003

(News updated on May 31, 2021 for race days)