The International Biathlon Union posted a press release Friday with the following key take aways. We will post the full press release below.
- “The IBU is planning to hold a full BMW IBU World Cup.”
- “The IBU Executive Board will meet on 26-27 September to take a decision on whether adjustments need to be made to the planned World Cup programme in the first trimester (November-December 2020).”
- “The World Championships Biathlon in Pokljuka (09-21 February 2021 are still scheduled as planned.”
- “The Executive Board also agreed that the IBU Youth/Junior World Championships will take place as scheduled on 24 February-7 March 2021 in Obertilliach (AUT).”
- “All IBU Junior Cup events for the 2020/21 season and the Junior Open European Championships will be cancelled.”
- “IBU Cup events in November and December 2020 will be cancelled and the competition series will officially begin in January 2021.”
- “The new competition schedule including the revised venue plan for the IBU Cup will be announced after the Executive Board meeting later this month.”
- “The IBU Open European Championship is planned at the original date and venue (Duszniki Zdroj/POL, 24-31 January 2021). The new dates can be found here: https://biathlonresults.com/”
IBU Press Release
The IBU Executive Board (EB) has made adjustments to the upcoming 2020/21 season to protect the health of the athletes and all involved.
The IBU is planning to hold a full BMW IBU World Cup series including the World Championships Biathlon in Pokljuka (09-21 February 2021). The IBU Executive Board will meet on 26-27 September to take a decision on whether adjustments need to be made to the planned World Cup programme in the first trimester (November-December 2020).
The Executive Board also agreed that the IBU Youth/Junior World Championships will take place as scheduled on 24 February-7 March 2021 in Obertilliach (AUT). However, in order to ensure the wellbeing of all involved, it was decided that all IBU Junior Cup events for the 2020/21 season and the Junior Open European Championships will be cancelled.
It was also agreed that the IBU Cup events in November and December 2020 will be cancelled and the competition series will officially begin in January 2021. The new competition schedule including the revised venue plan for the IBU Cup will be announced after the Executive Board meeting later this month. The IBU Open European Championship is planned at the original date and venue (Duszniki Zdroj/POL, 24-31 January 2021). The new dates can be found here: https://biathlonresults.com/
Due to financial and logistical considerations, the IBU cannot guarantee the same very high standards of protective health measures that will be delivered at the BMW IBU World Cup and the other planned events, at the Junior Cups. It was therefore decided that the Junior Cups must be cancelled and the opening of the IBU Cup will be postponed to avoid putting any athletes, teams and officials at risk. The decision was made at this early stage to ensure that the National Federations have enough time to adjust and/or extend their national competition calendars accordingly.
IBU President Olle Dahlin said:
“The IBU recognises that this is a very difficult time for the biathlon family, as it is for all sports. We are working hard to ensure we maximise the number of events we can host while always ensuring that the health and wellbeing of our athletes and all stakeholders is our first priority. We are satisfied with the plan we have developed that will mean biathletes of all levels have access to international competitions next season.
“We are also planning to support regional competitions in which neighbouring countries can compete if health regulations allow. The development of a concept to promote regional competition is one pillar in the IBU development plan and we will look into if and how this can be applied next season.”
The protective health measures planned by the IBU have been developed based on the advice of the expert IBU Medical Advisory Group and will be adjusted as required at events based on the advice of the respective national authorities. The IBU COVID-19 event guidelines can be found here: https://www.biathlonworld.com/about-ibu/inside-ibu/staysafe/
