The Organizing Committee Pokljuka together with responsible local authorities today decided that spectators will be allowed at the IBU World Championships Biatlon 2021 Pokljuka.
Pokljuka officially became the host of IBU World Championships 2021 on 9 September 2018 at a congress of International Biathlon Union in Poreč. The primary goal of getting the World Championships was to put Pokljuka on a new organizational and infrastructural basis, which would in accordance with developing trends in the popularity of biathlon, allow us to host competitions at the highest level by 2030. Another goal was international promotion of Pokljuka, hosts Bled and Bohinj and Slovenia. It was planned that Pokljuka and its environs would attract a lot of tourists. And, finally, one of the goals was also popularisation of biathlon as a sport with successful performance of Slovenian athletes.
Preparations for the World Championships were coming along smoothly. In January 2020 a test competition (BMW IBU World Cup Biathlon) was successfully organized. Over the summer, all important infrastructural works were done at Rudno polje (arrangement of racetracks, forest edge, repair of reservoir, arrangement of the road and headlands). In mid-September a study on the staging of the competition was prepared, that predicted about 12.000 spectators per day, all infrastructural solutions were prepared and all contractors chosen. A lot of attention was also given to promotional activities. Two very successful promotional actions were done – Biathlon Tour Mobil and Pokljuka House at the World Championships in Italian Anterselva. Workshops for tour operators were organized in October 2019. On the basis of these successful actions foreigners showed great interest in visiting the World Championships in Pokljuka, which was evident from ticket sales and hotel reservations in Bled, Bohinj and the environs.
Organizing Committee Pokljuka was, considering the current health situation (COVID pandemic) and developments around the World, postponing its decision about the way the Championships would be organized. The original plan was adapted, different scenarios and financial plans were made. Because less than two months are left before the start of the Championships, the organizer today made the decision and made sure there will be enough time for effective preparation and safe conduct of the World Championships. Coordination Group of the Organizing Committee decided that, in accordance with the current situation, preparations are being made in a way that limited number of spectators will be allowed at the venue Pokljuka. All recommendations and guidelines of International Biathlon Union and directions of National Institute of Public Health will be upheld.
The organizer will monitor the epidemiological situation in Slovenia and abroad and will adjust the number of visitors if necessary. Conditions permitting, the organizer will try to raise the number of spectators and gradually release tickets according to allowed and possible final number of spectators. All those who have already bought tickets and will not be allowed to attend, will get a complete refund. More information for ticket holders is available here.
The ticket sales is planned to continue after the new year. Tickets will be available via the Eventim system and Petrol Tickets.
The organizer will regularly inform the public of all its further decisions.