The E.ON IBU World Cup starts from Östersund, Sweden 28.11.2011. The race goes around Europe and comes to Kontiolahti, Finland 8.-12.2.2012. The event is organized by Kontiolahti Sport Club at the Kontiolahti Biathlon Stadium, which is an excellent and efficient unit of competition facilities. Kontiolahti Sport Club has organized world cups over 20 years in Kontiolahti. They have also organized World Championships in 1999 and will organize World Championships again in 2015. The stadium area offers: the shooting range of 30 targets (Kurvinen) and the versatile course a valid IBU A-license 2008-2016 renewed and lengthened (-11) roller ski track, 4 km cooled 1,5 km ski track, constructed 2004 several biathlon competition courses from 2 to 7,5 km and easy 10-20 km training tracks 21 modern, permanent waxing cabins and changing rooms a permanent (300 m²) press center a stand for more than 10 000 spectators a permanent, graphic information board a restaurant the Biathlon Stadium is located 120 meters above sea level. The tracks vary between 89 and 129 meters above sea level.

Day	Time local / CET	Disciplin
Wednesday 8.2.2012		Training
Thursday 9.2.2012		Training
Friday 10.2.2012	11:15 / 10:15 14:15 / 13:15	Sprint 10 km, Men Sprint 7,5 km, Women
Saturday 11.2.2012	12:30 / 11:30 14:30 / 13:30	Pursuit 12,5 km, Men Pursuit 10 km, Women
Sunday 12.2.2012	13:15 / 12:15	Mixed Relay 2 x 6 km + 2 x 7,5 km

VisitKarelia holds no responsibility on the changes of the program.
» Check the latest program version from the organizer here

Map of the stadium (click to enlarge)

Kontiolahti Biathlon Stadium is located near Lake Höytiäinen in the municipality of Kontiolahti. The stadium is within easy reach, 14 km from the centre of Joensuu and 25 km from Joensuu airport.

North Karelia, with a population of 170.000, is the easternmost region of Finland. Joensuu, the capital and the commercial center of the North Karelian region, is situated 438 km northeast of Helsinki. The Joensuu region has a population of approx 105.000 inhabitants.

Holiday in Karelia, in Finland

Winter in Karelia with its snow-clad landscapes offers an unforgettable experience. Cross-country skiing is possible everywhere throughout the winter until March and the downhill skiing season can last into April. You can also get around in the wintry forests on snowshoes, by snowmobile or in a sled pulled by a dog team. Or would you like to try ice-fishing?

One of the best ways of spending a holiday in North Karelia is to hire a lakeside holiday cottage. Whether you prefer a high-standard holiday home or a cosy log cabin, there is plenty to choose from. The hire of a holiday cottage includes tableware, cookware, firewood and a sauna. » Book a holiday cottage in Karelia » Search for tours and packages in Karelia » Facts for visitors » Transportation details » Contact information of the regional tourist information offices

TICKETS AND TOURIST INFORMATION:

Karelia Expert
Tourist Service Ltd
Koskikatu 5
FI-80100 Joensuu

Tel. +358 40 034 5578
biathlon@visitkarelia.fi

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ORGANIZER:

Kontiolahti Sport Club
P.O. BOX 23
FI-81101 Kontiolahti

Tel. +358 13 732 403
Fax +358 13 732 402
office@biathlon-kontiolahti.fi

• IBU is The International Biathlon Union, an international umbrella organization of all organizations representing the sport of biathlon and those who have an interest in the sport.

• In biathlon competition, the skiing distances vary from 6 to 20 km. The biathlete stops at the shooting range to shoot two or four times, with both the ski distance and number of shooting bouts depending on the type of competition in question.

• The shooting distance is always 50 m and five rounds are fired in each bout at five targets, except in the Relay competition in which the competitor has three spare rounds for each bout.

• There are two shooting positions, prone and standing, which are done in a sequence depending on the competition.

• Target diameters are very small, 115 mm for standing and 45 mm for prone. During the entire competition, from start to finish, the clock is running for the competitor - there is no time-out for shooting.

• Penalties for missed targets are imposed either as one minute of added time per target for the Individual competition or as a 150 m penalty loop - done immediately after each bout of shooting - for all other competitions.

• In essence, the competitor starts at the start line, skis one course loop (length depending on the competition), comes to the range and shoots, skis another loop, shoots, and so on, and then finishes with a ski loop to the finish line after the last bout of shooting.

• For the Individual and Sprint competitions, starts are done with one competitor at a time with a 30 second interval. In a Pursuit competition, starts are based on time intervals from the qualifying competition, and for the Mass Start, all competitors start together simultaneously.

• In the Relay competition, the first members of all teams start simultaneously and after completing their part, tag the next member to start them on their way.

• In principle, throughout the competition, the biathletes are responsible for their own actions, such as selecting a shooting lane in the Individual, Sprint and Pursuit competitions (assigned in the Relay and Mass Start first shooting by start numbers), and for counting the number of missed plates on their targets and then skiing the correct number of penalty loops. However, they must always follow the stipulations of the Event and Competition rules.

• Mixed Relays are also held; in these, female biathletes have to complete the first and the second round of the relay respectively, while the third and fourth relay round are each completed by a male biathlete. In other respects, the procedure for the Mixed Relay competition is as in the above description.