There are World Cup venues — and then there is Nové Město na Moravě. A place where the forests shake, the grandstands thunder and biathlon finds one of its purest, loudest and most unforgettable stages. As the tour returns in January, the Vysočina Arena takes on another standout moment: hosting the highly attractive Olympic test event ahead of Milano-Cortina 2026. Once again, the biathlon world’s attention turns to this small Czech town with a giant sporting spirit.

Vysočina Arena: A Modern Biathlon Hub in the Czech Highlands

Perched on the edge of deep Moravian forests and surrounded by quiet rolling hills, the Vysočina Arena has become a place where small-town charm meets world-class biathlon. What began as a humble skiing base has, over the past two decades, transformed into one of the sport’s most advanced venues. The biathlon rebuild in 2006, sparked by the idea of visionary Jiří Hamza, turned it into the home of Czech biathlon, complete with a permanent stadium, a 30-lane shooting range and one of Europe’s most powerful snow-management systems — including snow depots holding up to 60,000 m³ to secure reliable racing even in difficult winters.

Continuous development keeps the venue at the top level: wider tracks, full-length LED lighting, expanded stadium areas and upgraded team facilities. But the arena’s real strength lies in the people behind every major event. During flagship competitions like the World Championships, nearly 1,900 individuals — organisers, volunteers, officials, technicians, suppliers, security and support staff — work together to turn Nové Město into one of the largest and most efficiently run biathlon operations in the world.

And beyond the hard work and logistics, the arena also has its playful side — N and M, the mischievous forest spirits from the nearby Ochoza woods. Local legend casts them as cheerful tricksters: N, the towering strongman, and M, the quick and crafty brain of the duo. Stealing chickens, setting playful traps, sneaking around the arena just for fun — all part of their charm.

A Rapid Rise Onto the World Stage

The arena stepped onto the international scene in 2007 with its first European Cup races, followed by the European Championships in 2008. Its true breakthrough came soon after, when Nové Město won the bid to host the 2013 IBU World Championships — ahead of Oslo and Kontiolahti.

Since its World Cup debut in 2012, the venue has hosted nine BMW IBU World Cups and welcomed the biathlon world back for a second World Championships in 2024. It earned a reputation not only for its infrastructure, but for its extraordinary crowds: while a standard World Cup weekend regularly approaches 90,000 spectators, both the 2013 and 2024 World Championships drew more than 200,000 fans, turning the arena into one of the sport’s most electrifying stages. Its future is secure as well — Nové Město is confirmed on the World Cup calendar every season through 2030.

No athlete has mastered the tracks quite like Johannes Thingnes Boe, who has claimed 10 wins from 29 individual races here, more than anyone in the arena’s history. Norway leads the relay statistics too, topping the podium in eight of the 19 relay events held to date.

Czech athletes have delivered their own iconic moments — most notably in 2016, when Gabriela Soukalová captured the first and only Czech home-soil victory in a mass start. The latest Czech podium came in 2020, when Markéta Davidová secured bronze in the sprint.

“Nové Město holds only the best memories for me. I often think back to my mass-start victory — the roar of a sold-out Vysočina Arena was absolutely electric. Meeting my parents and friends right afterward is something I still treasure, honestly incomparable even to my Olympic successes. And I’m excited to return again this year as a supporter,” reflected Gabriela Soukalová.

Beyond the Arena: Exploring the Region

The Vysočina region offers far more than world-class biathlon — it’s home to a trio of UNESCO World Heritage sites known as the Vysočina UNESCO Triangle. In Třebíč, visitors can explore a unique mix of the Romanesque Basilica of St. Procopius and one of Europe’s best-preserved Jewish quarters. Telč captivates with its picture-perfect Renaissance square and castle reflected in a ring of peaceful ponds. And in Žďár nad Sázavou, the Church of St. John of Nepomuk on Zelená hora stands as a striking Baroque-Gothic fusion with a distinctive star-shaped layout.

For those craving fresh air rather than history, the region delivers as well — with dense forests, quiet trails, and a vast network of hiking and cycling routes that make Vysočina a natural playground just minutes from the arena.

Photos: Manzoni/IBU