On August 28th, the International IBU-IOC biathlon training camp in Erzurum (TUR), host city for the 2011 Winter Universiade (January 27th to February 6th) started.
Erzurum is the biggest city of the Eastern Anatolian Region and is also a very ancient settlement place. As the city is established at the outskirts of Palandöken Mountain, the city has gained great importance in the field of winter tourism during the recent years. Erzurum houses numerous historically rich works of art and therefore the city is a cultural center with a major potential for tourism.
This IBU-IOC camp was planned to give our Turkish friends an occasion to test the newly built biathlon facility and train its staff for the Winter Universiade in 2011. With 53 athletes taking part in the International camp is ready to start but unfortunately only with temporary shooting possibilities since the shooting range is still under construction. The biathlon venue is located in Kandilli, a small village about 40km from Erzurum city.
Mr. Ubaldo Prucker, who will be IBU Technical Delegate during the 2011 Winter Universiade, is the IBU supervisor of the construction for the biathlon venue. Mr. Prucker, who was also in charge of the design and construction of the new biathlon venue for the 2009 Winter Universiade in Harbin, China, has tremendous experience in leading training camps which will gain the Turkish Biathlon Federation and the Erzurum OC a lot of international experience with the Winter Universiade and future international events in mind.