Pokljuka is hosting the IBU World Championships Biathlon for the second time. The modern enables the organization of biathlon competitions at the highest level, and at the same time offers excellent conditions for the preparation of athletes in all seasons. In winter, 6 km of IBU- and FIS-approved biathlon and cross-country skiing trails are maintained, while in summer it is possible to skate on a 1.5 kilometre long roller ski track. The centre boasts a biathlon shooting range with 30 electronic targets. The sports infrastructure is open to both professional and recreational athletes. In addition, Pokljuka offers many other possibilities for outdoor activities.
The sports centre in Pokljuka is just one of the examples of well-maintained sports infrastructure in Slovenia. Good conditions for sports preparations and competitions at the highest level are provided by seven Olympic sports centres, which are complemented by national centres, and sports centres at the regional and local levels. The nearest Olympic centres to Pokljuka are Bled-Radovljica, suitable mainly for rowers and swimmers, the Planica-Kranjska Gora centre with the modern Nordic Centre in Planica, and Kranjska Gora with good conditions for alpine skiing.
With its diversity and three different climates, Slovenia has excellent conditions for various outdoor activities. The distances between individual parts of the country are short – in a single day you can climb to an alpine peak and enjoy the sea.
Slovenia has a number of specialised sports centres, and most of their offer to the world-class athletes is connected with well-developed tourist destinations, such as Slovenian natural health resorts. They have their own specialized medical centres, which also include special programmes for athletes, what is more, they are connected with internationally renowned professional sports and medical institutions. Slovenia is the right place for Paralympic athletes as well.
Slovenia has attractive summer and winter outdoor sport locations. They are complemented with stadiums, tracks, equipment, and accompanying indoor facilities, intended for the specific needs of individual sports disciplines. During the preparations and competitions, the privacy of the world-class athletes is guaranteed, as Slovenia is considered one of the safest countries in the world.
Slovenia has repeatedly proven to be a good organizer of various championships. In addition to Pokljuka, the traditional winter venues for World Cup competitions are Kranjska Gora and Mariborsko Pohorje for alpine skiing, Rogla for snowboarding, and Ljubno ob Savinji and Planica for ski jumping. Planica hosted several Ski Flying World Championships. In 2023, it will be the venue for the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships for the first time. This year, in addition to the biathlon championships in Pokljuka, Slovenia will also be the host of the FIS Snowboarding World Championships.
Bled hosted several Rowing Championships, including World Championships – the last one in 2011. In hockey, Slovenia was the venue of World Championship Division I. In team sports, Slovenia hosted the European Championship in water polo (2003), handball (2004), basketball (2013), futsal (2018) and volleyball (2019).
