The Finnish Defence Forces are organising the 52nd CISM World Military Skiing Championship 24 - 29 March in Lapland, in Sodankylä and Levi. Soldiers will be competing for world championship is skiing, biathlon, ski orienteering, patrol and giant slalom. Competitors will include several recent Olympians from the Sochi Winter Olympics, such as Martin Fourcade, French two-time gold medalist in biathlon, and Mathias Mayer, the Austrian who won gold in grand slalom. Two members of the Finnish team were also in the Sochi Olympics: Juho Mikkonen and Ahti Toivanen. 267 competitors and 120 leaders and organisers from 25 different countries will take part in the championship. The following countries will compete in addition to the host nation Finland: Austria, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, China, the Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Germany, Iran, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine and the United States. The championship also coincides with Finland’s 50th anniversary as a member of CISM and the patron of the championship is Finland’s President, Sauli Niinistö. The underlying theme of the championships is that of the International Military Sport Federation: Friendship Through Sport. The championship is governed by the rules of the International Military Sports Federation and those of the international individual sport federations (IBU, FIS, IOF). The competitions will be organised by the Jaeger Brigade together with Army Command Finland. The arrangements involve some 50 FDF personnel from the Jaeger Brigade and other FDF units and headquarters as well as conscripts and reservists. Competitors will be staying at the Sodankylä Garrison. This is the fifth time that Finland is hosting the World Military Skiing Championship. Previous championships have taken place in Hämeenlinna (1966), Rovaniemi (1982), Sodankylä (1992) and Rovaniemi (2003). The Finnish Defence Forces hosted the previous international military sports championship in Lahti in 2012. The championship is open to the public both in the Kommattivaara and Levi skiing resorts, as well as to the Opening Ceremony on 25 March and the Awards Ceremonies on 26 and 28 March. Championship schedule MON 24/3 Teams arrive in Sodankylä. TUES 25/3 Official training at the Kommattivaara Skiing Resort in Sodankylä and in Levi, Levi Black. Opening ceremony 1800-1900 at the Sodankylä townhall. WED 26/3 Sodankylä, Kommattivaara Skiing Resort: 1000 Cross-country skiing men 15 km 1215 Cross-country women 10 km 1445 Ski orienteering, men and women 2000-2100 Award Ceremony in front of Sodankylä townhall Levi, Levi-Black: 1000- Womens and mens giant slalom THUR 27/3 Sodankylä, Kommattivaara Skiing Resort: 0900 Biathlon men 10 km 1200 Biathlon women 7.5 km FRI 28/3 Sodankylä, Kommattivaara Skiing Resort: 1015 Patrol women 15 km and men 25 km 1700-1800 Award Ceremony, Jaeger Brigade in front of the Soldiers Home SAT 29/3 Teams depart The championships official website: mil.fi/wmsc2014 CISMs official website: cismmilsport.org For more information: - FDF sports and competitive sports: Chief of Physical Exercise, Defence Forces, Lieutenant Colonel Jarmo Viskari, tel. 358 (0)299 800 (FDF switchboard) - World Military Skiing Championship, Executive Director, Lieutenant Colonel Jukka Kotilehto, Jaeger Brigade, +358 (0)299 800 (FDF switchboard) More information for the media: A media event on the championship will be held in the Jaeger Brigade on Tuesday 25 March 09:30-10:30 (address: Siilastie 18, meet outside the Soldiers Home). Please send your registrations to Public Information Official Taina Pirinen, [email protected] or tel. +358 (0) 299 452 106. Media representatives are welcome to follow the races on site in Sodankylä and Levi. Inquiries during the championship: Public Information Official Päivi Lohi, [email protected]. +358 (0)299 410 715.
Posted on: Thu, 06 Mar 2014 09:12:31 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015