Earth Day 2021: IBU announces Biathlon Climate Challenge

The International Biathlon Union is delighted to announce the first Biathlon Climate Challenge, which aims to connect an active lifestyle with climate action. In honour of Earth Day 2021, fans are challenged to join one of ten different teams - all led by biathlon superstars – and track their physical activity in a fitness app which will convert the distance they have covered or calories they have burned into planted trees by a reforestation project.

To give back to Mother Nature, fans can join the Biathlon Climate Challenge in five simple steps. First, decide which athlete’s team they want to join. Then, to track their activities, download IBU‘s partner Active Giving’s app from the App Store or Google Play, create a profile and on the menu tab, select Team and enter the athlete code for their favourite athlete. Any activity counts – running, cycling, hiking, yoga, cross-fit and many more! A live leader board will be displayed on biathlonworld.com so the progress of each team can be tracked as they battle it out to contribute the highest number of trees.

The launch of the Biathlon Climate Challenge is part of the IBU’s Sustainability Strategy 2020-2030, which, launched last September, commits the IBU to addressing sustainability needs in five different areas: climate, sport, people, venue & event, communication & awareness. Its climate goal is to reduce emissions aligned with the goals of the Paris Climate Accord and to be climate neutral as a sport, at the latest by 2030.

IBU President Olle Dahlin:

“As a winter sport we are heavily dependent on cold winters and snow. Thus, we must take on our responsibility in the fight against climate change. By sponsoring the Biathlon Climate Challenge we are advocating for climate action and sustainable development within the biathlon family and winter sports. The Challenge is a fun way to connect our fans with the athletes and encourage them to keep physically active, with the added benefit it is good for the environment. We invite our fans to actively contribute together with athletes to reduce biathlon’s impact on the climate.”

The challenge starts on 1 May 2021 and aims to plant 100.000 trees. For the implementation of the challenge, the IBU has partnered with Active Giving, a platform that converts sports activities into funding for environmental or social purposes. The tree planting will be carried out by Eden Reforestation Projects, a non-profit organisation, whose mission is to provide fair wage employment to impoverished villagers as agents of global forest restoration.

The Team Leaders and their codes for the Biathlon Climate Challenge are:

1. Franziska Preuss, GER | FRANZI

2. Susan Dunklee, USA | SUSAND

3. Dorothea Wierer, ITA | DOROWI

4. Regina Oja, EST | REGINA

5. Olena Pidhrushna, UKR | OLENAP

6. Emilien Jacquelin, FRA | EMIJAC

7. Johannes Dale, NOR | JODALE

8. Jules Burnotte, CAN | JULESB

9. Sebastian Samuelsson, SWE | SEBSAM

10. Jakov Fak, SLO | JAKOVF

FAQ Biathlon Climate Challenge 2021