The opening of the World Cup is being prepared - the International Biathlon Union IBU will take a stand at the end of September

The organizers of the opening event of the Biathlon World Cup are waiting for the meeting of the board of the International Biathlon Union IBU at the end of September. The meeting is to outline the competitions of the first third of the World Cup season.

The director of the Biathlon World Cup opening event Sami Leinonen from Kontiolahti Urheilijat ry says that all possibilities are still open before the decisions of the IBU board.

─There are still many scenarios, and we are preparing for all of them, says Leinonen.

─ Together with the Finnish Biathlon Union, we are in close contact with the IBU regarding the corona situation in Finland and the instructions of the authorities. The IBU is still looking for a solution so that the season can start as planned in Kontiolahti at the end of November, albeit with special arrangements for athletes, organizers and the public, says Leinonen

The shooting range will be renovated before November

Renovation has started on the shooting range of the Kontiolahti Biathlon Stadium, which is scheduled to be completed before the scheduled start of the competition season in November.

─In the renovation, among other things, the front edge of the shooting bench will be repaired and asphalted, the target roof will be renewed, and rainwater drainage and new background walls will be built behind the shooting targets. The board lights will be updated to LED lighting, the chairman of the Kontiolahti Sportsmen's Association Kimmo Turunen summarizes the most important measures of the renovation.

The investment will reduce the track's environmental load, says Turunen.

─With LED lights, energy consumption is reduced and with the help of structural changes, cleaning and, for example, the recycling of sockets are easier. The renovation also meets the requirements of the environmental permit and the International Biathlon Union IBU.

The shooting range is owned by Kontiolahti municipality and managed by Kontiolahti Urheilijat ry.

More information:  

Biathlon World Cup event:Sami Leinonen, event director, Kontiolahti Urheilijat, 050-557 8003

Renovation of the shooting range: Kimmo Turunen, chairman of the Kontiolahti Sportsmen's Association, 050-5633480.