The next Biathlon World Cup hosts will be chosen at the end of September. The government’s promise of new lights will improve Kontiolahti’s chances of winning competitions.
Last week Kimmo Turunen jaw dropped in astonishment.
The CEO of the company that runs the Kontiolahti biathlon stadium was on a seminar trip in Italy when the Finnish government gave its budget briefing. Completely unexpectedly, Kontiolahti Biathlon Stadium was also mentioned at the event.
The government promised to ensure the lighting renovation of the North Karelian stadium, the cost of which is 1.5 million euros.
– This is a great thing. The result of diligent provincial lobbying, Turunen praises.
The biathlon stadium has needed new lights for years. The current lights do not meet the requirements of international competitions and television, which has been feared to weaken Kontiolahti’s chances of getting new prestigious competitions to the stadium.
– The difference between dark and lit areas has been too great. That’s why the TV pictures haven’t been as impressive as in other World Cup locations, says Turunen.
On television terms
In practice, the lighting renovation concerns a section outside the stadium of approximately 4.5 kilometers. The lighting in the area in question is only slightly brighter than on an average light traffic road.
According to Turunen, the goal of all the changes is the purity of the TV image.
– The light poles must be renewed and they must be higher than before, because the power of the new floodlights is high. At the same time, all overhead lines will be moved underground, he lists.
The new lamps are significantly more energy efficient than the current ones. Because of this, Turunen also considers the renovation to be an eco-deed.
Two quests going
There is currently tension in Kontiolahti as to whether the biathlon world championships will be granted to the locality. The hopes are for the World Cup in either 2028 or 2029.
Turunen is clear that the new lighting will improve the chances of winning the games.
Kontiolahti’s continuation in the Biathlon World Cup calendar is also interrupted. The mc race hosts for the coming years will also be decided in the coming winter.
In recent years, less than 10,000 spectators have visited the World Cup in Kontiolahti.
– A bright Finnish star athlete would be needed to increase popularity again, Turunen admits.
The municipality pays 30 percent
The government finances the lights from the regional development budget under the Ministry of Labor and Economy.
According to the ministry, the lights will be implemented regardless of whether Kontiolahti gets the World Championships or not. Kontiolahti municipality will pay 30 percent of the costs, or about 450,000 euros.
Last spring, Kontiolahti applied for funding for the lights from the Ministry of Education and Culture, without success. OKM considered that the municipality’s own share of the costs of the lights should have been higher.