Kontiolahti will not give up the vital early snow track for biathlon stars – sponsors are being sought for support

Kontiolahti municipality plans to preserve the early snow track traditionally opened in October, vital for elite biathletes. The future of this track was in jeopardy due to budget cuts, raising concerns among athletes. The municipality has committed to keeping the track and will propose its maintenance to the council for funding. The technical director has indicated that the track will be included in the budget discussions, and sponsors will be sought for financial support to maintain it as they do not have dedicated sales personnel. The municipality aims to enhance the track's marketing and seeks potential cooperation with nearby municipalities for shared costs. The annual cost of maintaining the early snow track is about 220,000 euros, and it has been taken over by the municipality after the previous managing organization faced financial issues.