Record-breaking IBU World Championships Nove Mesto 2024 sets up exciting end to season

The IBU World Championships Nove Mesto 2024 broke records in fan attendance and fan engagement reinforcing the ever-growing popularity of biathlon and setting up an exciting final trimester of the 2023/24 season.

The Championships, which took place on 7-18 February 2024, saw over 210,000 spectators attend to cheer on their favourite biathlon stars during two weeks of thrilling action. The excitement on the snow translated into record engagement across the IBU’s social media channels, with 3.5 million engagements during the Championships – a 75% increase on last year. Video views across all platforms were up by 200% reaching 30 million and impressions over doubled to 59 million.

Television audiences were also up with an average live audience of up to 10 million per competition. Germany generated the highest TV ratings with a 4.7 million average live audience tuning in to watch the men’s Mass Start. While in Norway and Sweden, biathlon dominated with the Championships securing an 80% market share for the final weekend. France’s success was reflected in a national record audience of 1.8 million viewers watching the women’s Mass Start.

IBU President Olle Dahlin said:

“The record-breaking IBU World Championships in Nove Mesto showcased the very best of biathlon. Our hosts prepared fair courses under challenging conditions and our incredible athletes delivered thrilling races which captivated hundreds of thousands in the venue and tens of millions on TV and online. With our strong digital presence we are able to better engage this growing audience and build stronger connections within the biathlon community.”

In addition to the regular broadcast, IBU's media partner Eurovision has launched the brand-new digital platform – Eurovision Sport – which ensures biathlon fans worldwide will have greater access to biathlon competitions than ever before. The 2024 Biathlon World Championships already brought thrilling action to many non-traditional biathlon markets globally. The IBU used the global platform of the World Championships to engage fans on environmental sustainability and encourage them to take individual climate action. The Biathlon Climate Pledge challenge also saw fans join as a community to pledge a green action of their choice to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.

The BMW IBU World Cup Biathlon now travels to the famous Holmenkollen venue in Oslo (NOR) for its next stop 29 Feb – 3 Mar 2024. The season finals will be held in North America with World Cups in Soldier Hollow (USA), 8-10 March 2024, and Canmore (CAN), 14-17 March 2024. The Youth and Junior World Championships will be held in Otepaa (EST) from 23 Feb - 2 Mar 2024.

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