The International Biathlon Union marked a historic milestone on 24 May 2025 by celebrating the first-ever International Biathlon Day. as part of the Biathlon4All initiative. This event, held in 22 different countries around the world in collaboration with National Federations worldwide, brought biathlon closer to communities globally.

Throughout this season, 44 National Federations have been supported by the Biathlon4All initiative. Teaming up, the Biathlon4All coordinators from the National Federations decided to kick off the International Biathlon Day on the last weekend of May to make sure it's a big, inclusive party that welcomes athletes, para-athletes, kids, parents, coaches, and volunteers alike. Activities included "try-it" zones, youth races, family relays, and recruitment events. Participants had the opportunity to experience the thrill of hitting targets with laser rifles and engaging in various family-friendly activities.

Highlights from Slovenia

In Pokljuka, the day coincided with the traditional spring cleaning action at the Pokljuka venue, conducted by the OC Pokljuka and biathlon clubs. This initiative highlighted the community's commitment to maintaining the venue and promoting environmental stewardship. Over 100 children participated in the 1st Biathlon Challenge, held in the finish area of the World Cup venue. The young participants earned diplomas, which also served as free training vouchers for any of the 11 biathlon clubs across Slovenia.

One of the young participants was eight-year-old Nika, who attended the event with her parents, Tina and Luka, a former elite Nordic athlete. Nika was captivated by the challenge of handling the laser rifle and hitting the targets.

"She has been glued to the TV when the biathlon World Cup is on. She couldn’t wait to come here and get acquainted with the rifle and targets. I need to explain to her that learning a proper cross-country technique comes first and is the basis for a successful career in biathlon," said Luka. "But I think she already sees herself as the future biathlon star."

The event in Pokljuka was further enriched by the presence of Slovenian biathlon stars. Lena Repinc a multiple youth World Champion and Klemen Bauer, former World Cup competitor, along with other Slovenian women’s athletes, spent three hours interacting with the children.

"Joining the International Biathlon Day between two trainings, I was tired, but the enthusiasm and excitement of the kids gave me a new burst of energy. Sharing my experiences and tips with them was truly inspiring. Events like these remind me why I love this sport so much,” said Lena Repinc.

The event concluded with a relay competition, adding a playful and competitive element to the day. The concept for the relay was prepared by another former athlete, Nike Vindišar, under the watchful eye of Biathlon4All coordinator for Slovenia, Jure Ožbolt.

Highlights from Ukraine

In Ukraine, in the Volodymyr region within Volyn, a competition for schoolboys and schoolgirls was highlighted by a master class led by Olympic champion Valentyna Semerenko. Meanwhile, in Pidhorodne, Ternopil Region, competitions among boys and girls featured a master class from Dmytro Pidruchnyi, with notable participation from Vitalii Mandzyn and Taras Lesiuk.

“It’s wonderful that a day like the International Day of Biathlon has been established. Now everyone involved in biathlon have our own day, our own celebration. It’s a great initiative, and it’s fantastic that competitions are held in different cities across Ukraine and other countries to mark the occasion. Here in Ternopil, we had a wonderful event—many children of various ages came together and took part in the competitions. The atmosphere was great. Many fans also responded to our invitation to attend the event and watch the competitions. We also tried to engage the spectators through our presence, conversations, and small workshops,” explained Pidruchnyi.

“My children, who also practice biathlon, took part as well. My daughter, who is 9 years old, took second place in her category. And my son competed against much older participants—5 to 6 years older—but he completed the entire course. He shot at two shooting ranges, just like all the other participants, and received an award as the youngest competitor. He’s only 5 years old, but he’s incredibly motivated and full of energy to take part in events like this.”

Chernihiv hosted regional competitions where participants benefited from master classes conducted by Olympic medalist Valentina Tserbe-Nesina and World Championships medalist Nina Lemesh. Additionally, in Khust, Zakarpattia Region, a master class was led by former biathlete and coach Iryna Merkushyna.

Kids also had fun in Spain

The International Biathlon Day in Spain was celebrated with great enthusiasm at the Llama de Samper venue in Jaca. Participants were introduced to the world of biathlon, beginning with an overview of the laser rifle and the course layout. They learned essential techniques and rules of the sport, gaining a solid foundation before engaging in the competition.

Photo: IBU Pool: A. Kacin, D. Yevenko