MINSK, 18 May (BelTA) – It is with deep regret that the Belarusian Biathlon Federation learned about the decision of the Executive Board of the International Biathlon Union (IBU), taken without any consultation with the Belarusian side, to relocate the IBU World Cup Biathlon scheduled for 3-6 March 2022 from the Raubichi Olympic Winter Sports Center, reads a statement on the federation's website, BelTA has learned.
For the successful conduct of such a prestigious event, the Belarusian side, represented by organizations and government agencies concerned, fully complied with all the IBU requirements for the organizers of such international sports competitions. The Raubichi sports complex, the category A facility that has the right to hold biathlon competitions of the highest level, has been spruced up. According to athletes and specialists, Raubichi is one of the best biathlon arenas in the world. In recent years, Belarus has hosted several international tournaments (two European championships, the world junior championships, the IBU Cup, the Summer Biathlon World Championships). Their successful conduct is considered by the IBU as a prerequisite for awarding the right to host the IBU World Cup, the statement reads.
The international biathlon community, numerous fans of the national biathlon remember perfectly well that in February 2020 Belarus promptly responded to the IBU's request for urgent relocation of the IBU European Open Biathlon Championships from the Estonian city of Otepaa due to the lack of snow there, as in most European countries. According to IBU, the above-mentioned prestigious competition was held at a high organizational and professional level, despite a tight schedule, challenging weather conditions and other difficulties.
A competent team of specialists and judges has been set up to host any biathlon events.
The federation added that a lot had been done to develop children's and youth sport in the country. In 2017-2020 biathlon complexes were built in Gomel, Baranovichi, Chausy, Gorodok, stadiums and cross-country skiing tracks were upgraded in Novogrudok and Novopolotsk. The country is working hard to develop new innovative training methods.
“Spectacular victories of the Belarusian biathletes have enhanced the image of the Belarusian sport on the international arena, and the number of biathlon fans in the country has been steadily growing. We are convinced that Belarus would have been a great host of the 2022 World Cup and we hope that its relocation from Raubichi will remain an isolated case in history. We also hope that numerous Belarusian fans, who would have packed the home stadium and who were looking forward to the canceled event, will still have an opportunity to enjoy biathlon competitions in their beloved Belarus,” the statement of the Belarusian Biathlon Federation says.
