MINSK, 20 May (BelTA) – Belarusian Sport and Tourism Minister Sergei Kovalchuk sent an open letter to President of the International Biathlon Union (IBU) Olle Dahlin, BelTA has learned.
"It was with great sadness that the Sport and Tourism Ministry learned the news of the cancellation of the 2021/2022 World Cup in Minsk.
The Republic of Belarus and the International Biathlon Union have enjoyed a long-standing partnership. Our country has always upheld the high standing of the union among international sports federations. We are always ready to support initiatives and efforts to develop biathlon.
Belarus has repeatedly hosted major competitions under the auspices of the International Biathlon Union, including the world and European championships, and has always been appreciated by the IBU for the great organization of the events.
In recent years, Belarus hosted the IBU Youth/Junior World Championships in 2015, the IBU Summer Biathlon World Championships in 2019, the IBU Open European Championships in 2019 and 2020.
Following the 2019 IBU Summer Biathlon World Championships you said: “The event was organized well, the organizing committee demonstrated great teamwork. In the run-up to the 2021/2022 season and the World Cup, this looks promising. I am also impressed by the way you are promoting biathlon in your country.”
In 2020, the IBU senior executives asked Belarus to take over the IBU Open European Championships. Although Belarus had little time to prepare, the country's biathlon federation managed to conduct the competition at a very high level with the personal support of the president of our country.
The IBU Open European Championships were seen as a preparation for the World Cup in 2021/2022. Belarus allocated significant financial resources to hold this competition.
However, we were saddened to learn about the reallocation of the BMW IBU World Cup Biathlon of the 2021/2022 season originally scheduled for Minsk-Raubichi.
The Republic of Belarus sticks to the view that sport and politics do not mix and that sport should unite people.
We believe that this unjustified decision undermines the reputation of the IBU and the trusting relations with our country, and the principles of Olympism.
We express our deep regret that this policy of double standards will affect numerous biathlon fans.
We hope that the IBU will reconsider this decision and that our cooperation with the International Biathlon Union will continue.
The International Biathlon Union announced on 16 May that the 2021-2022 BMW IBU World Cup Biathlon in Raubichi, Belarus, scheduled for 3-6 March, would be relocated to Finland's Kontiolahti. The IBU Executive Board said that the decision to reallocate the event was taken in light of the current situation in Belarus, to provide planning certainty for Organizing Committees, National Federations and their teams.
Two days later, the Belarusian Biathlon Federation commented on the situation, expressing the deepest regret about the news to move the World Cup from Belarus. The Belarusian Biathlon Federation added that the decision was taken without any prior consultation.
