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Summer Biathlon WCH in NMNM End of August; Fans Attending Free of Charge

After three years, the IBU Summer Biathlon World Championships returns to Nové Město na Moravě. From 26^th through 29^th of August 2021, 12 sets of medals will be competed for in the Vysočina Arena. And fans will also be there, able to enter free of charge.

The championships of 2018 were a success in all respects. Therefore, the International Biathlon Union awarded Nové Město na Moravě the right to host them again in 2021.

“Three years ago, it was great for us to see the fans flock in and create an atmosphere that was unheard-of for competitions in the summer. That’s why we decided to keep it this way this year: free entry. We also consider this move a thank you to the fans who supported us these last two years, when the large majority of them did not return their tickets for the World Cup in Nové Město. I look very much forward to enjoying the competitions together with them again,” the President of the Czech Biathlon Union and First Vice-President of the International Biathlon Union, Jiří Hamza points out.

Currently, the epidemiologic outlook is very good in the Czech Republic, so a few thousand fans will be able to watch the competitions in the Vysočina Arena. At this point, the Chief of Competition, Vlastimil Jakeš is in touch with the IBU officials on ensuring the safety of the athletes and the participating teams. “We are now preparing for the competitions to take place in a similar fashion as in the winter, with testing and assignment to various bubbles,” Jakeš explains.

The home fans may look forward to the Czech team at the full, led be World Champion Markéta Davidova. “This is going to be the high point of the summer season. On top of that, we may be able to race in front of our fans after so much time. It would be very nice if we managed to repeat the results of the last Nové Město championships,” the Sport Director and coach of the men’s team, Ondřej Rybář recalls the streak of medals of 2018. The Czech representatives kept 13 noble metals at home then and in the Vysočina Arena largely topped the medal table.

On Thursday, 26^th of August, the World Championships kicks off with the Junior Men’s and Junior Women’s Supersprints, which replace the Mixed Relays on the programme. On Friday, the same newly introduced, very exciting type of competition will be on the Men’s and Women’s schedule. The week-end, as has become classic, will belong to the Sprints and Pursuits.

Currently, 25 nations have registered, along with the home team, for instance, Russia, Ukraine, Slovenia, Slovakia, Poland or Finland.