In July, the federation confirmed more than €2 million of funding for National Federation development projects across the 2026/27 season before publishing the list of approved candidates for September’s IBU Congress, where a new President will be elected following the conclusion of Olle Dahlin’s tenure. Together, the announcements highlight an organisation investing not only in today’s competitions, but in the long-term health, governance and growth of the sport.

A record investment in participation

At the heart of the latest announcement is an investment of €2.065 million supporting 147 development projects across 41 National Federations. The funding follows 186 applications from 42 member federations, illustrating both the growing demand for support and the increasing ambition of biathlon’s global community.

Rather than focusing on elite performance alone, the programme spans the full participation pathway. The largest areas of investment include National Federation partnership projects, youth and junior athlete development, programmes introducing children to biathlon, support for athletes transitioning after their sporting careers, gender equality initiatives and improvements to training venues.

The breadth of the programme reflects a philosophy that sustainable success begins with strong national systems rather than isolated international results.

Inclusion at the center

One of the strongest aspects of the investment is the continued emphasis on Para Biathlon. The IBU has allocated almost €186,000 to support 18 projects across 16 National Federations, focusing on athlete identification, participation programmes and federation partnerships designed to expand opportunities for athletes with disabilities.

The federation states that these initiatives are intended to build stronger biathlon and para biathlon programmes, improve access to the sport and create clearer pathways for future athletes, reinforcing its ambition to create “a more inclusive and accessible biathlon family for all.”

That long-term approach is increasingly becoming a hallmark of the IBU’s broader sustainability strategy, where social development sits alongside governance reform and environmental responsibility.

A changing of the guard

Alongside the development announcement, the IBU has confirmed the candidates for its September Congress in Berchtesgaden, where Executive Board member Tim Farcnik will stand unopposed to succeed Olle Dahlin as President after Dahlin reaches the federation’s term limits. Sofia Domeij will run unopposed for Vice President, while 11 candidates will contest six Executive Board positions.

The election process also demonstrates the federation’s continuing focus on governance, with all candidates having completed the vetting process undertaken by the independent Biathlon Integrity Unit and gender balance requirements applying to both the Executive Board and Technical Committee.

Leading by example

The two announcements reinforce the IBU’s reputation as one of world sport’s most progressive international federations. Investment in participation, youth development, inclusion and governance are increasingly being treated as interconnected priorities rather than separate programmes.

That approach is reflected in the recently published Global Sustainable Sport (GSS) SPI Index, where the IBU is currently ranked 25th in the world with a Purpose Advanced (C+) SPI Rating. It is currently the second-highest ranked Olympic Summer or Winter International Federation, underlining the progress the organisation has made in embedding sustainability, integrity and long-term organisational purpose.

With a new leadership team set to take office in September and more than 147 development projects now underway across the world, the IBU appears well positioned to continue building a federation where strong governance and investment in people remain the foundations for sustainable sporting success.