Biathlon World Cup returns to Pokljuka with eco-conscious measures

This year's Biathlon World Cup meet at Pokljuka, a plateau in the Triglav National Park, coincides with black grouse mating season. To give the vulnerable species the peace and quiet it needs during this crucial time spectator numbers will be capped and noise and lighting reduced to a minimum.

The Pokljuka biathlon centre, known for the trails winding through spruce forest and against the backdrop of the Julian Alps, has been hosting top-class biathlon events since the 1992/93 season. Featuring women's, men's and mixed events, the meet will be held from 13 to 16 March this year, CE Report quotes The Slovenia Times.

The dates, which come at a sensitive time for the black grouse, were set by the International Biathlon Union (IBU) with the organizers in Slovenia having little say in it.

"We could have just returned the race to the IBU, which would have jeopardised our bid for the next four-year period," Tim Farčnik, secretary-general of the organising committee, says, adding that such a decision would also negatively affect the sport and tourism in the area.

Biathlon World Cup competitions were last held this late in 2014, but at the time quiet areas for the black grouse on the plateau had not been prescribed. This year the organizers had to come up with a compromise solution to keep the event while at the same time limiting its impact on wildlife.

The meet is taking place very close to the quiet zone for the bird, Tit Potočnik, director of the Triglav National Park, said as the regional administrative unit heard the organizers' application on 3 March. He is happy with the organizers' commitments and expects they will get the go-ahead.

"Everything will run in a very controlled fashion," Farčnik said. All visitors will be transported by organised shuttles. The number of spectators will be limited to 3,000 per event.

The use of sound and lighting equipment will be kept to a minimum and only for the duration of the competition, and all side events will take place in Bled, the lakeside resort town at the foot of Pokljuka.

The organizers also earned praise from the Triglav National Park for their work in the past to raise awareness among visitors and inform them how to behave in the sensitive area of the park.

Cooperation with the stakeholders was also noted by Farčnik, who described the Pokljuka biathlon meet as something special. "While it cannot compare with other venues in terms of turnout, it can match them for being exclusive, special and niche, and we will continue to strive for this in the future."

Of all winter sport events hosted by Slovenia, biathlon has the largest international audience, Farčnik said. He expects more than 50 million viewers to watch the events.

"I believe that biathlon, through the way it is covered, offers a unique insight into our country as a green, sustainable destination and I believe that biathlon contributes significantly to the development of tourism in Slovenia," he said.