The IBU divides biathlon venues into three categories: those with an A license, those with a B license, and those without a license. An A license authorizes a venue to organize World Cups and World Championships, while a B license allows it to apply to host the Senior European Championships, IBU Cups and Junior World Championships. Operators of venues without a license can seek to host, at most, Junior IBU Cup competitions. The Junior European Championships being held in the coming days in Jakuszyce-Szklarska Poręba are an example of such an event.

- The Lower Silesian Sports Centre, together with its stadium, shooting range and adjacent trails, has just received a Category B license from the International Biathlon Union. Olle Dahlin, head of the global biathlon federation, personally presented it during his visit to Polana Jakuszycka on Saturday. No other venue in Poland has such a license. Next year we will organize the IBU Junior Cup again, but we can also apply to host higher-ranking events – says Jerzy Michalak, president of the Lower Silesian Park of Innovation and Science, the company that manages the venue at Polana Jakuszycka.

Last week, the Junior IBU Cup was held on the trails and at the shooting range in Jakuszyce. It served as a kind of dress rehearsal ahead of the Junior European Championships beginning on Wednesday. The competitions ended with successes for young biathletes from Germany, Austria and Estonia. Among the Polish representatives, Marcin Zawół performed best, finishing fifth in Saturday's sprint, followed by Fabian Suchodolski, who was ninth in Sunday's sprint. Expectations for Polish success in the fight for medals at the Junior European Championships are nevertheless higher. In recent years, Polish juniors have returned from the continental championships with a medal almost every time.

Competition schedule

  • 7 February, 10:30 a.m. – women's individual race (12.5 km)
  • 7 February, 2:00 p.m. – men's individual race (15 km)
  • 8 February, 10:30 a.m. – mixed relay (4x6 km)
  • 8 February, 2:00 p.m. – single mixed relay (6 km + 7.5 km)
  • 10 February, 10:30 a.m. – women's sprint (7.5 km)
  • 10 February, 2:00 p.m. – men's sprint (10 km)
  • 11 February, 10:30 a.m. – women's 60-person mass start (9 km)
  • 11 February, 2:00 p.m. – men's 60-person mass start (12 km)

Opened in 2022, the Lower Silesian Sports Centre is one of the most modern facilities of its kind in Europe. It was a long-awaited addition to the opportunities offered by this exceptional corner of Poland. The DCS was created both for amateurs who want to enjoy dozens of kilometers of cross-country ski trails in the Jizera Mountains and as a training venue for professionals preparing for the most important competitions. During its still relatively short operation, the DCS has already proven itself as a venue for national and international biathlon and cross-country skiing competitions, led by the Bieg Piastów, which belongs to the Worldloppet federation.

Tourist trails available to skiers

Importantly, during the championships, the competitors will occupy only a small part of the Jakuszyce ski trails and will compete solely on the approximately 7.5-kilometer-long competition trails and at Polana Jakuszycka itself. The competition area will be fenced off with netting. The remaining trails – 88 kilometers in total – will remain available and maintained by the Bieg Piastów Association. They can be accessed at eight points: the Bieg Piastów Association parking lots (1b), Polana Maliszewskiego (20), Huta (43), Chatka Robaczka (41), Czerwony Potok (26), Harrachov railway station (6), Novy Svet – Harrachov – via the Partyzancka trail to Dział Izerski (7). In addition, the trail at Orle can be accessed via the Polana Jakuszycka railway platform (1). The numbers in parentheses are the designations used for the respective locations on most maps and trail signposts.