International Biathlon Union facts for kids
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| Sport | Biathlon |
|---|---|
| Jurisdiction |  International |
| Founded | 2 July 1993 |
| Headquarters | Anif b. Salzburg, Austria |
| President | Olle Dahlin |
| Official website | |
The International Biathlon Union (IBU) is the main organization that runs the sport of biathlon around the world. Biathlon is a winter sport that combines cross-country skiing and rifle shooting. The IBU's main office is in Anif, near Salzburg, Austria.
In 2018, the IBU faced some challenges regarding how it was managed. Later, in 2022, due to a major conflict, athletes and officials from Russia and Belarus were not allowed to compete in international biathlon events for a while. The IBU also started procedures to suspend the biathlon groups from these countries.
Contents
Countries in the IBU
As of March 2023, 61 nations are members of the IBU:
- Asia (11 countries):
Kyrgyzstan, 
China, 
Chinese Taipei, 
India, 
Japan, 
Kazakhstan, 
South Korea, 
Lebanon, 
Mongolia, 
Uzbekistan, 
Thailand - Oceania (2 countries):
Australia, 
New Zealand - Americas (7 countries):
Canada, 
Chile, 
Brazil, 
Dominican Republic, 
Argentina, 
Mexico, 
United States - Europe (41 countries):
Andorra, 
Armenia, 
Belgium, 
Belarus, 
Macedonia, 
Moldova, 
Serbia, 
United Kingdom, 
Bulgaria, 
Croatia, 
Cyprus, 
Czech Republic, 
Denmark, 
Germany, 
Estonia, 
Italy, 
France, 
Finland, 
Greenland, 
Greece, 
Hungary, 
Latvia, 
Liechtenstein, 
Lithuania, 
Georgia, 
Netherlands, 
Norway, 
Austria, 
Poland, 
Spain, 
Romania, 
Russia, 
Slovenia, 
Bosnia and Herzegovina, 
Slovakia, 
Ireland, 
Sweden, 
Switzerland, 
Ukraine, 
Iceland, 
Turkey
History of the IBU
Starting the IBU (1993–2009)
The International Biathlon Union (IBU) was created in London on July 2, 1993. Before this, biathlon was part of a larger sports group called UIPMB since 1953. But then, it was decided that biathlon should have its own international organization. When the IBU was formed, 57 countries that were part of the old group automatically joined the new IBU.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) officially recognized the IBU as an Olympic winter sport group in August 1998. The IBU moved its main office to Salzburg, Austria, in June 1999. The IBU holds a big meeting called a congress every two years. This meeting is very important for making decisions about the sport. The first congress happened in Salzburg in 1994.
Since the IBU started, there have been World Championships for men and women every year. There are also Junior World Championships and Youth World Championships for younger athletes. The first Summer Biathlon World Championships took place in Hochfilzen, Austria, in 1996. The IBU also started managing archery biathlon in 1999.
In the Winter Olympics, biathlon started with three events. By the 2006 games, there were five biathlon events: Relay, Individual, Mass Start, Sprint, and Pursuit. In 2014, a sixth event, the Mixed Relay, was added.
Challenges and Changes (2010–2019)
Between 2010 and 2019, the IBU faced some serious problems. In 2018, there were concerns about how the IBU's leaders, including its President Anders Besseberg and his deputy Nicole Resch, were managing things. They were accused of not following the rules and making unfair decisions, especially regarding athletes from Russia. Both leaders left their positions that year. Anders Besseberg had led the IBU for 25 years. A report later showed that he had accepted many gifts and favors, and in return, he seemed to protect Russian athletes and stop efforts to find out about unfair practices. Nicole Resch was also involved in similar actions. This led to a big change in leadership for the IBU.
Recent Events (2020–present)
Due to the conflict in Ukraine, the IBU made a decision in 2022. Athletes and officials from Russia and Belarus were suspended from all international biathlon competitions. This means they could not take part in events until further notice. The IBU also started steps to suspend the biathlon groups from these two countries.
How the IBU is Run and Supported
The IBU is an organization that does not aim to make money. It works with different groups, including TV companies like the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and marketing services. These partnerships help biathlon reach many fans around the world.
Many companies help support biathlon by putting their advertisements along the race tracks. Some of the main sponsors include Hörmann, Bauhaus, Viessmann, LaVita, DKB, and BMW, which is a very important sponsor. Other companies like IFS (which provides software) and Polar (which makes heart rate monitors) also help by providing data and timing services. Most of these sponsors are from Germany, Scandinavia, and Eastern Europe, where biathlon is very popular.
The most well-known biathlon events are the Biathlon World Cup events, which are for the best athletes. There is also a second-level competition called the IBU Cup. The IBU helps the top ten athletes in the overall standings by paying for their travel and accommodation for the next season.
Main Biathlon Events
- Biathlon at the Winter Olympics
- Biathlon World Championships
- Biathlon World Cup
- Biathlon Junior World Championships
See also
In Spanish: Unión Internacional de Biatlón para niños
