Aims
The International Biathlon Union (IBU) is the association of the national federations in the world and other organisations representing and interested in the sport of biathlon. This sport in its basic format combines free-technique cross-country skiing and small-bore rifle markmanship. It includes, however, also Roller Ski Biathlon, Cross-Running Biathlon, Mountain Bike Biathlon, as well as Archery Biathlon and similar variations of biathlon. Biathlon is predominantly exercised as a winter sport, but also summer biathlon is becoming more and more popular, especially in those parts of the world that do not have snow. Biathlon was admitted as olympic sport at the Olympic Winter Games in Squaw Valley in 1960. At that time the sport of biathlon was represented by the UIMPB (Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne et Biathlon). In 1993 the International Biathlon Union was established in London as an independent association under the umbrella of the UIPMB side by side with the UIPM (Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne). In 1998 the IBU and the UIPM separated and were both recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as two independent International Olympic Sport Organisations.
Following a comparative legal expertise on where to establish its seat, the IBU decided for Austria and first formed an association under Austrian law in Salzburg in 1999. The IBU agreed with the UNESCO in Paris on entering a working partnership by contributing to UNESCO development programs via the International Fund for the Development of Physical Education and Sport (FIDEPS). On 26 January 2000 the IBU was recognized as Non-Governemental Organisation by the Austrian Minister for Foreign Affairs under a respective Austrian Federal Act dated of 1992. Since then, its legal status is ruled by this act. The cooperation with the UNESCO has been being intensified within CIGEPS.
The IBU is responsible to promote the sport of Biathlon by supporting and developing it in the fields of competitive sports and popular recreational sports with special emphasis on the development of the youth. The IBU has all rights pertaining to Biathlon World Championships (senior, junior, and youth), Biathlon World Cups, Biathlon Continental Championships, and Biathlon Continental Cups. In exercising these rights the IBU has concluded marketing and sponsor partnerships and is cooperating with the European Broadcasting Union concerning the use of the IBU's TV and Internet rights. Apart from organising the contribution of biathlon to the Olympic Winter Games, the IBU organizes every year Biathlon World Championships and among other competitions a series of at least six World Cups in different countries.
The IBU aims at combining the development of the technics and material for practising biathlon with respect for the health of the athletes and the integrity of nature and human surroundings. Harmony is sought by the IBU Constitution and regulations, especially the IBU Competition Rules, the IBU Anti-Doping Rules, the IBU Disciplinary Rules, and the respective practice, as well as by licenses and controls of sites for biathlon events. The IBU is proud of offering a dynamic and ever more attractive sport for more and more people following the fascination of the combination of full out physical exertion over an extended period of time and extremly fine control and stability of biathletes when skiing or running and shooting.
