In a little over three months, on March 10-13, 2022, Otepää will host a BMW IBU Biathlon World Cup stage for the first time ever. In November, the International Biathlon Association (IBU) declared the Tehvandi competition venue ready to host the BMW IBU World Cup stage.
During the initial inspection in June, BMW IBU World Cup Race Director Borut Nunar presented his suggestions, which have been fully implemented by now. The shooting range of the Tehvandi Sports Centre has got new security walls with built-in camera positions in order to produce the best TV picture quality possible. The targets background at the shooting range has been refurbished and the exact plans of the stadium and tracks have been completed.
"After the inspection in November, Borut Nunar gave a positive assessment of Otepää's preparedness to accommodate the World Cup teams and organize the competition," said Hillar Zahkna, Chairman of the Otepää BMW IBU World Cup Competition Committee. "Today, Tehvandi Sports Center has the necessary infrastructure and resources to organize the top competition."
In addition to the international federation, representatives of the German TV channel Das Erste also visited the Otepää competition venue. The international television broadcast of the Otepää stage will be produced by the Estonian National Broadcasting, but Das Erste will install additional cameras on the stadium and on the track to offer the German TV viewers a closer look at their fellow country athletes.
Besides the exciting sport show, the Otepää World Cup stage will offer various activities for the whole family. "We have planned concerts by popular artists and an entertainment program in the audience tent. Kids can spend time and have fun in a designate kids area," said Aivar Nigol, President of the Otepää BMW IBU World Cup Organizing Committee. "The sales of discount tickets, which ends as the season begins, has showed very high interest in the event. In addition to top-level competition, we offer our biathlon fans a variety of entertainment,” Mr Nigol added.
The BMW IBU World Cup Biathlon stage will be held in Otepää on March 10–13, 2022. The four-day competition includes sprint, mass start, mixed relay and single mixed relay. Discount tickets are available until November 26, 2021.