Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 24 February (BelTA) – The participants of the 2015 IBU Youth/Junior World Championships that finished at the Raubichi sports complex on 24 February highly praised its organization, BelTA learned from director of the championships, Deputy Chairman of the Belarusian Biathlon Federation Yuri Albers.

“Representatives of the International Biathlon Federation, our guests told me that the championships have been organized at a very high level. However, that was an unofficial opinion, and we are waiting for an official one. In any case, I am proud of our team. Consider this for a moment: the World Cups that we want to host generally include some three or four races for men and women. Raubichi hosted 16 races! The Raubichi sports complex did a good job hosting the 2015 IBU Youth/Junior World Championships. After the renovations at Raubichi, the Belarusian Biathlon Federation is ready to hold any competitions of the highest level,” the director of the 2015 IBU Youth/Junior World Championships said.

Yuri Albers also commented on the competitive element of the world championships.

“Judging from my experience not only as a sports official but also as a coach, I can say that the achievements made by the Belarusian team are very significant. They have won two medals, two gold medals. If somebody had told me before the worlds that we would hear the Belarusian anthem two times, I would not have believed him. I am also happy about the results of our young athletes who finished in the top ten. This means that the Belarusian biathlon has good prospects,” Yuri Albers emphasized.

A total of 16 sets of medals were awarded at the 2015 IBU Youth/Junior World Championships in the Raubichi sports complex. Russia topped the medal scoreboard with a total of 12 medals (5 gold, 4 silver, and 3 bronze). Belarus ranked fifth among the eleven countries that made it to the podium.