Last night, the Biathlon Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina was officially presented at the Olympic Museum in Sarajevo.

The establishment of the Federation represents a significant step in the promotion of biathlon and the further development of talented athletes from across the country. Bosnia and Herzegovina is now among the 62 countries of the International Biathlon Union (IBU) that have their own independent federations.

Addressing those present, the president of the newly formed Biathlon Association of BiH, Ljubiša Tanić, emphasized that the establishment of the Association represents a significant step for Bosnia and Herzegovina and a strong foundation for success in international competitions, and that it will entail better information flow and financial control. He pointed out that what distinguishes Bosnia and Herzegovina from most countries in the region is the exceptionally good infrastructure, with the Dvorišta venue on Jahorina currently at the forefront, along with the Veliko polje on Igman.

“One of the main goals of the association will be the promotion of biathlon in other parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina that have potential, such as Vlašić, Kupres, and Manjača, so that increased participation can foster quality,” Tanić stated.

Tanja Karišik Košarac, a three-time Olympic biathlete and ski runner and a participant in numerous international competitions, expressed her satisfaction with the establishment of the Biathlon Association of BiH, emphasizing that this umbrella Association will not only organize numerous competitions but will surely also provide athletes with better working conditions, and thus better results can be expected from domestic biathletes.

“The Association certainly plans to continuously promote biathlon as a discipline, as it is currently disproportionately neglected, while in other countries it is one of the most popular sports,” said Karišik Košarac.

The establishment of the Association was also welcomed by the Mayor of Sarajevo, Predrag Puharić, wishing local biathletes success in future competitions around the world. He expressed hope that this moment for Bosnian and Herzegovinian sports will be recognized by all those who can and should help the development of sports in our country.

The Secretary-General of the Olympic Committee of BiH, Doc. Dr. Said Fazlagić, congratulated and wished the Biathlon Association of BiH much success in its work, highlighting that at the next session, an application is expected for the Association to officially become the 42nd member of the Olympic Committee of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Tomislav Lopatić, the coach of the Biathlon team of Bosnia and Herzegovina and a member of the biathlon team that represented Yugoslavia at the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo, also addressed the attendees. Via video message, he congratulated the establishment of the Biathlon Association, as did IBU President Ole Dalin.

The beginning of the work of the Biathlon Association of Bosnia and Herzegovina was officially announced at the Olympic Museum, which permanently preserves the memory of organizing one of the largest sporting events held in Southeast Europe - the XIV Winter Olympic Games Sarajevo 1984.

The event was attended by numerous distinguished guests, former biathletes, coaches, and sports workers.