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: will be updated later

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): Will be updated

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 and Wednesday, 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 Will be updated

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 23.11.

Tuesday 24.11.

Wednesday 25.11.

Thursday 26.11.

Friday 27.11.

Saturday 28.11.

Sunday 29.11.

Track maps

• Will be updated

Thursday 26.11.2026

• Individual Men: 20 km (5 x 4,0 km)

Friday 27.11.2026

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

Saturday 28.11.2026

• Single Mixed Relay (1,5 km)
• Mixed Relay (2,0 km)

Sunday 29.11.2026

• Sprint Men: (3 x 3,3 km)
• Sprint Women: (3 x 2,5 km)