A new era of biathlon governance opens in Bavaria
The 17th Ordinary IBU Congress officially opened in Berchtesgaden, Germany on Thursday, launching a four-day session that will determine biathlon's leadership structure for the next four years. More than 50 national federations are represented at the congress, which serves as the sport's highest decision-making body and convenes every two years.
Tim Farcnik of Slovenia, a sitting member of the IBU Executive Board, was elected IBU president as the sole candidate in the race. He succeeds Olle Dahlin of Sweden, who stepped aside having served two consecutive four-year presidential terms — the maximum permitted under IBU statutes. Dahlin steered the organization through the Beijing and Milan-Cortina Olympic cycles and navigated the suspension of Russian and Belarusian athletes that has remained in force into the 2026-27 season. Notably, the congress handbook carries no provision to debate reinstating either federation, confirming the status quo continues.
Domeij elected first Swedish vice president
Swedish IBU director Sofia Domeij was elected vice president, also running unopposed. Her elevation gives Sweden a seat at the top of biathlon's executive structure for the first time. Current treasurer Christian Scherer of Austria was re-elected to his financial post, again without a challenger.
The most competitive portion of the day's voting involved the six open seats on the IBU Executive Board, contested by eleven candidates from across the sport. Standing were Paulina Batovska-Fialkova (Slovakia), Tore Boygard (Norway), Atanas Ivanov Furnadshiev (Bulgaria), Tarmo Karsna (Estonia), Ivan Krulko (Ukraine), Fabien Saguez (France), Nathalie Santer (Italy), Stefan Schwarzbach (Germany), Michael Walker (Canada), Elizabeth Winfield (Great Britain) and Tamara Wolf (Switzerland). Results of the board vote were not immediately published.
Youth festival, Iceland membership and the Russia question
Beyond elections, the congress is set to formally establish an IBU Youth Festival from 2028, a new stand-alone junior event designed to give younger athletes a dedicated international platform separate from the senior World Championships. Its specific location and format remain to be confirmed. The Icelandic Biathlon Federation has been recommended for admission as a full IBU member, which would bring a Nordic nation with growing competitive ambitions into full voting membership for the first time.
The question of Russia and Belarus was not on the congress agenda, maintaining the IBU's long-standing position that reinstatement cannot be considered under current conditions. Both federations have remained suspended from international competition throughout the 2025-26 season and that suspension carries forward.
2031 Worlds host vote on Friday
The most keenly anticipated decision of the entire congress — the awarding of the 2031 IBU World Championships — is scheduled for Friday, September 18. Finnish venue Kontiolahti, which has hosted the Worlds before, faces a challenge from Sweden's Östersund, also an experienced host. Both bids were assessed as technically qualified by IBU evaluators. A close vote is expected, with the result set to be announced in Berchtesgaden before the congress concludes on September 20.