IBU JUNIOR CUP

ABOUT THE IBU ATHLETES’ COMMITTEE

The Athletes’ Committee is composed of five members. Four – two female and two male athletes – are elected by the IBU World Cup athletes in Olympic years and confirmed by the IBU Executive Board. The fifth member is appointed by the Athletes’ Committee and also sits on the Technical Committee. The Athletes’ Committee is intended to act as a link between the active athletes and the IBU bodies, and acts in full autonomy.

CLARE EGAN

CHAIR, ATHLETES’ COMMITTEE MARTIN FOURCADE

ATHLETES’ COMMITTEE MEMBER

AITA GASPARIN

ATHLETES’ COMMITTEE MEMBER CLARE EGAN CHAIR

ERIK LESSER

ATHLETES’ COMMITTEE MEMBER

HENRIK L’ABEE-LUND

ATHLETES’ COMMITTEE MEMBER

THE 2021-22 SEASON WAS ABOUT ENDINGS AND NEW BEGINNINGS.

4 The arrival of vaccines in summer 2021 meant the end of the strictest

COVID-19 restrictions and the revival of the international summer biathlon events, which we missed the previous year. We celebrated the return of

spectators for the first time in 18 months!

4 In September, Athletes’ Committee

(AC) Chair Clare Egan spoke at the

IBU Presidents’ meeting for the first time and challenged the Presidents to uphold the values of clean and athlete-centred sport within their

National Federations. Later we faced the painful decision to ban athletes from Russia and Belarus. The AC invited athletes to show solidarity with Ukraine by wearing yellow and blue on their rifle harnesses, and countless athletes spoke out for peace.

4 In March, Sebastian Samuelsson

(SWE), Ingrid Tandrevold (NOR)

and Johannes Kuehn (GER) were elected to the 2022-26 Athletes‘

Committee, joining Clare Egan, who was re-elected for a second term

and continues to serve as Commit-

tee Chair. 4 We also wished Martin Fourcade the best of luck in his new role as an

IOC Athletes’ Commission member.

And we want to thank former Sport & Event Director Felix Bitterling for being a great ally to athletes during his 13-year tenure with the IBU.

4 At the World Cup final in Oslo, the

AC organised a farewell “lap of

honour” for retiring athletes. The athletes shared a champagne toast in the stadium and then skied the course together, waving to fans who stood in applause. It was a beautiful way for athletes to say good-bye.

4 The AC hosted its annual open meeting in December 2021 with over 60 athletes from at least 25 NFs.

In January 2022 the AC collaborated with the IBU Sport & Event Department and the IOC to organise a pre-departure information meeting for Beijing-bound athletes and team staff, which was attended by over 100 people.

4 Biathletes at all championship-level events, whether the Winter Games in

China, European Championships in

Germany, or Youth & Junior World

Championships, in USA, put on impressive performances — a testament to their persistence during a challenging year.

4 Just days after the Closing Ceremonies in Beijing, Russia and Belarus

unforgivably broke the Olympic

Truce by invading Ukraine. We watched in horror as our Ukrainian friends withdrew from competition and were called into military service. 4 The beginning of a new term meant saying goodbye to 2018-22 Athletes’ Committee members Erik Lesser (GER), Martin Fourcade (FRA) and

Aita Gasparin (SUI). They challenged the IBU to be a better organisation during a period of dramatic transition, and for that we owe them our thanks. 4 While the end of a cycle is always bittersweet, the AC is proud of all that

IBU athletes have achieved in the face of adversity, and we look forward to what the next chapter will bring.