Media

Media contact persons:

IBU Communications Director
Christian WINKLER
Phone: +43 664 19 22 429
Email: christian.winkler@ibu.at

IBU World Cup Media Manager
Mariya Osolodkina
+43 - 664 - 19 22 552
mariya.osolodkina@ibu.at

IBU Photo Manager
Christian Manzoni
+43 - 664 - 19 22 916
christian.manzoni@ibu.at

EBU TV delegate
Bettina Vecchi
+41 - 79 - 401 6183
vecchi@eurovision.net

Host Broadcaster key person on site
Producer/Director World Feed:
Jonna Smedberg, +358 44 421 4731
jonna.smedberg@yle.fi

Organising committee Kontiolahti
Chief of Media
Heikki Hamunen
+358 40 035 0900
Email: media@kontiolahtibiathlon.com

Other key persons and contacts: 

Chief of Competition Kimmo Turunen +358 50 563 3480
Event Manager Sami Leinonen +358 50 557 8003
Secretary General Jarno Lautamatti +358 43 218 0573

Kontiolahti Biathlon Stadium

Kontiolahti Biathlon Stadium is located on the shores of Lake Höytiäinen in the municipality of Kontiolahti.

The stadium is 14 km from the city centre of Joensuu and 25 km from Joensuu airport. Kontiolahti Biathlon Stadium is located 120 meters above the sea level.

The tracks vary between 89 and 129 meters above the sea level.

North Karelia, Kontiolahti, Joensuu

North Karelia, with a population of 165 000, is the easternmost region of Finland. Read more about North Karelia. 

Kontiolahti (="Bear Bay" in English, with "kontio" meaning "bear" and "lahti" meaning "bay") is a youthful municipality in North Karelia. It has the highest proportion of children in the region, and its population is well-educated with above-average income levels. Located in an excellent location near the central city, highway and the airport, Kontiolahti offers versatile opportunities for exercise and outdoor activities. Kontiolahti is world-famous for biathlon competitions. The municipality is constantly striving for growth and is known for the most brilliant attitude. www.playkontiolahti.fi

Joensuu, the capital and the commercial center of the North Karelian region, is situated 438 km northeast of Helsinki. Read more about Joensuu.

The Joensuu region has a population of approx. 123 000 inhabitants.

The event is organized by Kontiolahti Sport Club in cooperation with Finnish Biathlon Federation, Kontiolahti Municipality, City of Joensuu and Regional Council of North Karelia at the Kontiolahti Biathlon Stadium.

Media accommodation: Omena Hotel Joensuu 
Address: Kauppakatu 32, Joensuu

Omena Hotel Joensuu, located in the center of Joensuu, began operations in spring 2025.

In addition to guest rooms, the hotel offers a shared kitchen equipped with a coffee machine for guests.

Omena Hotel Joensuu 3-9 March 2026 for accredited media at IBU World Cup Kontiolahti:  

• 1 person: 167€ / room / night incl. breakfast, shared kitchen and VAT
• 2 persons: 187€ / room / night incl. breakfast, shared kitchen and VAT

Breakfast is served at Houkutus Café, located at Torikatu 24.The breakfast package includes either: 

• a filled sandwich or croissant & coffee/tea, or
• a porridge bar breakfast: overnight slow-cooked whole grain porridge with various toppings, a small smoothie, and coffee/tea.

Book your accommodation by email: groupreservations@omenahotels.com.

Please include your name, phone number, and the email address to which the booking confirmation should be sent. Accommodation can be paid by invoice or via a payment link (credit card). 

Booking reference: World Cup 2026 Kontiolahti

If you need assistance with accommodation, please contact the Chief of accommodation, Ms. Johanna Kellokumpu: accommodation@kontiolahtibiathlon.com

Transportation

The organiser offers free shuttle bus transportation based upon request made in advance: 

Broadcasters and media representatives can book transportation

1. From the airport/train station to the media hotel, AND
2. Between the media hotel and the stadium (app. 20 minutes)
   • via the form at https://ibu.mattersoft.fi/ibu/kontiolahti#/info or
   • by email at transportation@kontiolahtibiathlon.com

Note! The transport services are provided only upon advance requests. Please submit your request no later than one day before the requested transportation.

Transportation office phone number: +358 400 376 626

Accreditation office is located in ground floor of Hotel Kimmel in Joensuu. Car passes and parking cards will be handed out at the accreditation office.

Address: Itäranta 1, 80100 Joensuu

Opening hours:

Contact: 

OC Chief of Accreditation: Tuija Lautamatti, accreditation@kontiolahtibiathlon.com, +358 40 5964911

The parking capacity in the stadium is limited during the event. Media has its own parking area close to the media entrance of the Kontiolahti Stadium (follow “Media” signs when arriving). Parking permits for the media parking area must be pre-ordered and will be handed out at the accreditation office.

Opening hours:

The Media Centre (see #10 on the map) offers a fast WLAN network and an optional LAN-cabling.

All moving media are requested to attend the briefing sessions in the media center as follows:

• Main briefing (obligatory for all registered photographers): Thu 5.3. 16.00 (2h prior to the race start)

All accredited moving media are required to wear a bib in the competition area to get access to the photo zones.

These bibs are available

• in the accreditation (TV Rights Holders) and
• in the media centre (in coordination with the IBU Photo Manager) in the main briefing (see above "Mandatory briefing for moving media"). For the bibs distributed in the media centre, a deposit of 20 € must be paid on the spot. The deposit will be returned when the bib is returned. 

I-Zone
A request-based system will be in place for the I-Zone: athletes will come to the media center only when specifically requested and if cannot be interviewed in the mixed zone.

Media representatives will have the opportunity to request interviews with the athletes participating in the flower ceremonies (via the phone number stated in the event-dedicated group). The group will be used to share important news and competition updates. Please note that athletes may not always be available for interview requests inside, including to safeguard their health, and may prefer to speak in the mixed zone.

Mixed zone
The mixed zone area has several dedicated TV and radio positions for live interviews. There will be a common area for those rights-holding broadcasters who have not booked a dedicated position, as well as for the written Media.

Questions about the I-Zone, Mixed Zone or WhatsApp group? Please contact IBU World Cup Media Manager Mariya Osolodkina mariya.osolodkina@ibu.at

IBU will provide a basic package of competition-related pictures as handouts for editorial purposes. The images will be available immediately after the flower/medal ceremonies.

Click here to see the photos.

On each race day, the café corner in the media center serves complimentary soup during the times listed below.

In addition, snacks and bewerages (water, coffee, tea, etc.) are available free of charge to accredited media during Media Center opening hours. 

Soup serving times: 

On Tuesday (3 March) and Wednesday (4 March), accredited media may have soup in the volunteer tent next to the media center (#9 on the map). 

The Finnish Transport and Communications Agency (Traficom) regulates the use of radio frequencies in Finland. Based on submitted applications Traficom issues radio licences for users of radio transmitters to ensure trouble-free utilisation of the radio spectrum. Applications can be submitted by filling in the form found with the link below. You’ll find the link in the IBU Member Center (Team Logistics HUB), please fill in the form of Radio license application online here:

• https://www.traficom.fi/en/radio-licence-related-short-term-events
• Deadline 2 FEB 2026

Some radio transmitters can be used on licence-exempt basis depending on their operating frequency and application. Please refer to Traficom Regulation 15:

https://www.traficom.fi/en/regulations/regulation-15-collective-frequencies-licence-exempt-radio-transmitters-and-their-use

The applicable frequency bands for wireless cameras, video links and microphones have been collected to page:

https://www.traficom.fi/en/communications/communications-networks/wireless-cameras-video-links-and-microphones

Frequencies are applied through the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom.

Please contact Traficom at: radiotaajuudet@traficom.fi  

It can take up to 28 days to receive the frequencies from Traficom and thus, it is recommended to send the applications soonest possible and by the end of January at the latest.

Once Traficom has sent you the frequencies, please make sure to send the information further to Mr. Juho Hämäläinen (LOC/Bluesounds) at juho@bluesounds.fi for onsite coordination and confirmation purposes. Please contact Juho by 16 February 2026.

Monday 2.3.

• 16-19: Ski training

Tuesday 3.3.

• 15-17 Training Men 
• 18-20 Official Training Women 

Wednesday 4.3.

• 15-17 Training Women 
• 18-20 Official Training Men

Thursday 5.3.

• 13.30-15 Training Men 
• 17.05-17.55 Zeroing Women
• 18.05 Individual Women 15 km
• Flower Ceremony Women

Friday 6.3.

• 13.30-15 Training Women 
• 17.10-18.00 Zeroing Men
• 18.10 Individual Men 20 km
• Flower Ceremony Men

Saturday 7.3.

• 10.30-11.30 Training Mixed
• 13.55-14.25 Zeroing Women
• 14.40 Mass Start Women 12,5 km
• Flower Ceremony Women
• 15.55-16.25 Zeroing Men
• 16.40 Relay Men 4 x 7,5 km
• Flower Ceremony Men

Sunday 8.3.

• 13.45-14.15 Zeroing Women
• 14.30 Relay Women 4 x 6 km
• Flower Ceremony Women
• 17.10-17.40 Zeroing Men
• 17.55 Mass Start Men 15 km
• Flower Ceremony Men

Track maps

• You can find all track maps here.

Thursday 5.3.2026

• Individual Women: 15 km (5 x 3,0 km)

Friday 6.3.2026

• Individual Men: 20 km (5 x 4,0 km)

Saturday 7.3.2026

• Mass Start Women: 12,5 km (5 x 2,5 km)
• Relay Men 4 x 7,5 km (3 x 2,5 km / leg)

Sunday 8.3.2026

• Relay Women 4 x 6 km (3 x 2,0 km / leg)
• Mass Start Men: 15 km (5 x 3 km)