A Grand Opening for a Grand Event

Did you miss the opening ceremony of the Youth & Junior World Championships 2025?
Then you truly missed something extraordinary.

To stand among the crowd under a starry sky and witness the opening of the Youth & Junior World Championships 2025 was a magical experience. Watching all the young, excited biathletes walk in a torchlight procession across the bridge over the water, meeting the waiting audience with wide-eyed wonder, was heartwarming in the cold evening air. As the last team arrived and placed their flag among the long row of banners, the magnitude of the moment became clear – this is something truly special.

495 athletes from 41 nations have gathered here in Östersund, in a place far from home. In some cases, as far from their home country as one can get. This incredible turnout promises an exciting future for international biathlon. And we can be quite certain that during these competitions, we will witness performances from tomorrow’s world stars.

The atmosphere was exactly as it should be welcoming, inspiring, and heartwarming.

An hour before the ceremony began, people started to gather, welcomed by fire baskets, warm drinks, and the opportunity to try out electronic biathlon. The recently returned Swedish World Championship medalists from Lenzerheide were celebrated on stage and shared memories from their own Junior World Championship experiences. They also offered encouraging words to all the young talents and future stars.

The stage was graced with a Sami musical performance, a mesmerizing dance number with a fire juggler, and warm welcomes from representatives of Östersund Municipality, the Swedish Biathlon Federation, and the IBU to all the participants of this long-awaited championship.

Olle Dahlin, the IBU President, summed it up beautifully in his opening speech:
“These World Championships are about much more than winning and reaching the podium. They are an opportunity for all of you athletes to develop your skills and gain valuable experience. Experience that will not only serve you in your biathlon career but also in your lives outside of sport. They are an opportunity for you to come together and inspire other young people to take up biathlon – just as you were once inspired when you were young.”

The excitement reached another level when Swedish pop star Theo took to the stage and ended the evening with a highly anticipated concert.

In short, it was a truly worthy start to this year's most eagerly awaited competition – at least in our eyes.

Want to see it all with your own eyes?
Check out the opening ceremony here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEpBQWUJyOA Länk till annan webbplats.