23 авг. 2023

IBU appoints Tomi-Pekka Riihivuori as Para Biathlon Coordinator

The IBU is pleased to announce the appointment of Tomi-Pekka Riihivuori as Sport-Technical Para Biathlon Coordinator to support the integration of Para Biathlon into the IBU and help grow the sport. Riihivuori will officially start in his position on 1 October 2023.

“My first contact with para sport was as a guide, a cross-country skiing athlete and a student of sport sciences in the early 2000s. It was an eye-opening experience that changed my view of para sports and the general concept of sports completely. After gaining several years of experience in the world of biathlon as a coach, referee, technical delegate, and organiser of several IBU and Para Biathlon events, I am happy to take on this new role as Para Biathlon Coordinator.” - Riihivuori

The IBU took over the governance of Para Biathlon from the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) as of 1 July 2022. Para Nordic Skiing is now managed by the IBU in cooperation with the International Ski Federation (FIS) through a joint process.

Following the initial season of cooperation with FIS during the 2022/2023 season, the IBU is now in the process of integrating Para Biathlon into its operations.

Riihivuori was elected to the IBU Technical Committee at the IBU Congress 2022 in Salzburg. Hailing from Joensuu (FIN), the 40-year-old contributes an extensive background in cross country, biathlon, and para Nordic over the past 20 years.

In his new role, Riihivuori will be working closely with the IBU Sport & Event department and the Para Biathlon Working Group and in particular with the FIS Para Nordic team to plan and stage the top level events and help develop Para Biathlon worldwide.

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