MINSK, 26 February (BelTA) – The Olympic Winter Sport Center Raubichi is a great venue to host international biathlon competitions, IBU Secretary General Niklas Carlsson said at an opening ceremony of the IBU European Open Biathlon Championships on 26 February, BelTA has learned.
“On behalf of the International Biathlon Union I would like to extend greetings to the organizing committee that could prepare to host the competitions within such a short period of time, despite all the difficult conditions. Your efforts and the substantial work carried out are impressive. Raubichi is a wonderful venue to host European championships and other international biathlon competitions,” Niklas Carlsson said.
Belarus' Deputy Sport and Tourism Minister Aleksandr Baraulya expressed gratitude to the International Biathlon Union for an opportunity to host such important competitions. “The organizing committee did its best to ensure comfortable conditions for both the participants of the competitions and fans,” he added.
The competitions will open at 13:00 with the Men Super Sprint Qualification. Belarus will be represented by Viktar Kryuko, Raman Yaliotnau, Anton Smolski, Mikita Labastau, Maksim Varabei, and Sergei Bocharnikov. The women's event will feature Belarusian biathletes Iryna Kryuko, Hanna Sola, Dzinara Alimbekava, Elena Kruchinkina, Irina Kruchinkina, Adelina Sabitava.
All in all, taking part in the event will be 40 teams comprising about 300 athletes.
On 27 February biathletes will compete in the Single Mixed Relay (W+M) and 4x6 Mixed Relay. 29 February will feature Men 10 km Sprint and Women 7.5 km Sprint. The competition will wrap up with the Men 12.5 km Pursuit and Women 10 km Pursuit on 1 March.
The 2020 IBU Open European Biathlon Championships was relocated from Estonia's Otepaa to Raubichi due to the warm weather in Estonia. The Belarusian Sports and Tourism Ministry and representatives of the Raubichi sports center expressed their readiness to host the competitions.
Photos by Denis Kostyuchenko
