The project is dedicated to the development of National Federations (NFs) and aims to support them with practical and theoretical knowledge and training through the organisation of training camps, which are delivered with the assistance of IBU experienced Coaches. In order to be able to participate in the programme, NFs must prove that they have a stable federation structure and that they conduct national biathlon championships. The camps can be attended by athletes aged 15 to 23. The project is supported by the IOC IF development programme.
The IBU as a responsible federation, through the IBU IOC training camps, supports developing NFs with practical and theoretical knowledge about sport and biathlon theory and practical training letting the Athletes and Coaches improve their skills and competence for future participation in the international level competitions. The main objectives are:
Promotion of human resources in the host country
Follow-up to previous Oceanic, South American, Asian and European biathlon federation seminars for coaches and athletes
Promotion of diversity and gender equality in sport
Promotion of youth participation in biathlon
Maintenance and improvement of the structure of the international training camps, taking into consideration the option of changing the hosting venue (mid-term planning) in some regions every other year to include more NFs in total
Providing IBU-IOC assistance for national guidance and legacy in the respective hosting countries on the targeted continents
Providing a combination of theory and practice in biathlon sport coaching as well as delivering organizational skills and guidance
In 2024 the IBU is organizing two IBU-IOC Camps and an IBU IOC International Youth Camp that is organized by OC Nove Mesto Na Moravie as a legacy for the World Championships NMNM 2024.
The IBU aims to support NFs from B,C&D development categories. Each invited NF may send a maximum of 4 athletes + 1 coach for the Summer camp (2 female and 2 male athlete) and 4 athletes + 1 coach for the Winter Camp (2 female and 2 male athletes). The costs for accommodation incl. catering for all participants of the Camps and travel contribution is paid by the IBU.
The applications for the Camps are open from 02 April 2024 in IBU Scope
IBU-IOC Summer Camp Otepää, EST 12-19 August 2024 (before SBWCHs)
NF participants from C&D: 1 NF Coach + 4 athletes (2 male, 2 female)
INVITATIONInternational Youth Camp NMNM, CZE 21-26 October 2024
NF participants from B, C&D: 1 NF Coach + 4 athletes (2 male, 2 female)
Brochure Youth Camp NMNM 2024IBU-IOC Winter Camp TBD 23 November – 01December 2024
NF participants from C&D: 1 NF Coach + 4 athletes (2 male, 2 female)
In 2023 the IBU is organizing two IBU-IOC Camps and an International Camp that is organized by OC Lenzerheide as a legacy for the World Championships in 2025.
The IBU aims to support NFs from C&D development categories. Each invited NF may send a maximum of 2 athletes + 1 coach for the Summer camp (1 female and 1 male athlete) and 4 athletes + 1 coach for the Winter Camp (2 female and 2 male athletes). The costs for accommodation incl. catering for all participants of the Camps and travel contribution is paid by the IBU.
The applications for the Camps are open from 01 April 2023 in IBU Scope
On the occasion of the BMW IBU World Championship Biathlon in Oberhof in February 2023, the IBU, NF GER, and OC Oberhof, in cooperation with Olympic Solidarity, organized an IBU Youth Training Camp in Oberhof, Germany, from the 24th to the 30th October 2022.
Handbook Camp Oberhof 2022Due to the ongoing difficulties with COVID-19, the IBU organized in 2021 two overall in-person camps with similar preventive measures as in the previous winter season.
The camp’s goal was to support the twenty-one participating federation’s “existing structure by providing expertise and guidance to create a long-term legacy for our sport.”. 66 athletes and 23 coaches from 21 National Federations came to the Slovenian venue for ten days of intensive instruction under the watchful eyes of six IBU Coaches including Canada’s Matthias Ahrens, Germany’s Norbert Bayer, Sweden’s Anna Wickström, Slovenia’s Nusa Pogacar, and Robert Sitar, and Italy’s Luca Bormolini as well as Olympic Relay Silver medalist and IBU Sports and Event Manager Daniel Böhm. Supplementing the physical and shooting training were workshops on anti-doping, training plans, shooting, and ski/rollerski technique.
69 athletes and 21 coaches from 20 National Federations came to Martell for ten days of intensive training sessions under the guidance of five IBU Coaches including Head Coach Matthias Ahrens (Canada), Walter Hörl (Austria), Armin Kasslatter (Italy), Trym Rostad (Norway) and Anna Sprung (Austria). This camp´s special guest was Germany´s Ex Biathlete and Olympic Champion Laura Dahlmeier who joined the camp for the first 3 days as an Athlete Role Model sharing her experience and knowledge about skiing techniques with the next generation of athletes.
In 2020, the IBU-IOC Virtual Camps were organized from 19 October until 29 November 2020, covering three weeks of online sessions focused on the development of coaches and athletes. During this unique educational experience in small regional groups, coaches learned and broadened their knowledge in the principles of training plans while working with athletes on the national level.
IBU-IOC Virtual Camps 2020 Summary
Ilario Maddalin - Development Camps Project Coordinator ilario.maddalin@ibu.at
Dagmara Gerasimuk - Development Director dagmara.gerasimuk@ibu.at