News & Events in Belarus

2019 IBU Open European Championships officially kick off in Raubichi

MINSK, 18 February (BelTA) – The official opening ceremony for the 2019 IBU Open European Championships and the Legends Race biathlon festival took place at the Raubichi Olympic Training Center on 18 February, BelTA has learned.

Belarusian Deputy Prime Minister, Chairman of the Organizing Committee Igor Petrishenko read out the greetings from Belarusian head of state, President of the National Olympic Committee of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko to the participants of the sport festival.

“This year the Belarusian biathlon is marking its 60th anniversary. The continental sport forum in Belarus is regarded as an example of trust and recognition of the Belarusian national biathlon school. Biathlon in Belarus is not just a sport. It has become a national sport idea. Darya Domracheva is a guideline for future generations of athletes. The upcoming Legends Race and the IBU Open European Championships will be a real sport festival for fans and participants,” said Igor Petrishenko.

“The biathlon festival in Raubichi will last for the whole week. Fans will witness an exciting competition during the Legends Race. Many leading athletes have come here to show their skills. More than 30 countries will be represented at the European championships, which will contribute to the development of sport  in your country,” said Vice President of the International Biathlon Union Ivor Lehotan.

The opening ceremony of the championships featured a parade of flags, a ceremony to raise the IBU flag and a concert of Belarusian singers.

Many leading biathletes chose not to travel to Canada and the United States for the BMW IBU World Biathlon Cups but to focus on the preparations for the IBU Open European Championships in Minsk and the IBU World Biathlon Championships in Sweden. Russia has sent its strongest athletes to Raubichi. Famous biathletes have come from Norway, Germany and Ukraine. All in all, taking part in the sport forum will be 295 biathletes.

The Raubichi Olympic Training Center hosted earlier both world and European biathlon championships. After major renovations the center hosted the 49th edition of the Biathlon Junior World Championships in 2015.

The opening ceremony on 18 February will be followed by the Legends Race that will feature many outstanding retired athletes. 

Eight-time Olympic champion Ole Einar Bjoerndalen will take part in Men Mass Start and will also compete in Mixed Relay аlongside his wife, four-time Olympic champion Darya Domracheva.

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