‘It is an honour and at the same time a confirmation of our work to date that we have once again been able to gain the trust of the international biathlon family. After months of preparation and an intensive bidding process, we are very happy that we will be able to organise the 2028 World Championships in Hochfilzen again,’ explained ÖSV President Roswitha Stadlober, who led the Austrian delegation in the Serbian capital.

The World Championships in 2028 was the absolute favourite date for the Austrian Ski Association - because it closes a circle in the Pillerseetal. The fourth World Championships in Hochfilzen will take place exactly 70 years after the first Biathlon World Championships in Austria (in neighbouring Saalfelden) and 50 years after the first medal decisions in the Tyrolean lowlands.

‘As a regional councillor for tourism, I am delighted that Hochfilzen has been chosen as the venue for the 2028 Biathlon World Championships. The World Championships offer our beautiful tourism and sports region of Tyrol another opportunity to showcase its best side on the international stage,’ emphasised Tyrol's State Councillor for Tourism Mario Gerber.

In addition to the touristic appeal of this major event, the planned infrastructure measures are intended to benefit the military training area and, above all, the sport in the long term. For example, there are plans to rebuild the main grandstand, under which a gym is to be built, a new underpass and overpass at the entrance to the shooting range, tunnel connections for athletes and spectators and modifications to the roller skiing track.

‘In addition to the presentation of an excellent concept, the smooth organisation of the World Cup event every year was certainly the right calling card. The biathlon family knows that Hochfilzen, with all its experience in the competition area and the exemplary cooperation with the Austrian Armed Forces, has the best prerequisites to successfully host another major event after 2017,’ explained Franz Berger, Chairman of the Organising Committee in Hochfilzen. He was joined in his delight by Brigadier Peter Schinnerl (military commander of the province of Salzburg) and Colonel Thomas Abfalter, commander of the military training area in Hochfilzen, as representatives of the Austrian Armed Forces.

For ÖSV Sports Director Mario Stecher, the home World Championships in four years' time offer a great opportunity. ‘Being able to present yourself in front of your own audience at a World Championships is perhaps a unique opportunity for every athlete in their career. Especially in the women's field, we have athletes with great potential and have recently been able to gradually approach the world's best. Our goal for the men must also be to form a strong team again by then.’

The confirmation of the World Championships also triggered a wave of enthusiasm among those responsible in the region and is also seen as a success for the many years of commitment to the sport of biathlon. ‘The 2028 Biathlon World Championships will not only put Hochfilzen, but the entire Pillerseetal valley in the spotlight of the international sports world. Hochfilzen stands for guaranteed snow and hospitality - accordingly, it is our goal to offer all guests an unforgettable experience in the midst of our unique mountain scenery. Of course, we also want to use this major event to promote sustainable developments in the Pillerseetal valley,’ says TVB-Pillerseetal chairman Markus Kogler, who, like Hochfilzen's mayor Konrad Walk, kept his fingers crossed on site.

After the FIS Alpine Ski World Championships Saalbach 2025 and the FIS Snowboard, Freestyle and Freeski World Championships 2027 in Montafon, this will be the next major winter sports event for the Austrian Ski Association within a few years. The organisation of the IBU Biathlon World Championships 2028 aims to build on the success of the last title fights. The images of a magnificent sports festival in 2017 are still fondly remembered. In addition to fantastic weather and an inspiring atmosphere with 150,000 spectators, the successful infrastructure measures thanks to the good cooperation between the federal government, province, municipality, the Austrian Armed Forces and the ÖSV were a prime example of the successful realisation of a major event.

In addition to Hochfilzen, there was another winner in the World Championships double award at the IBU Congress. Co-competitor Oslo was awarded the right to host the 2029 IBU Biathlon World Championships. The Finnish bidder Kontiolahti also presented itself convincingly and professionally in front of the delegates, but came away empty-handed with the award.