Opening ceremony to be held Thursday
PRESQUE ISLE — After months of planning and preparation, the 2014 IBU World Youth/Junior Biathlon Championships will take center stage at the Nordic Heritage Center in Presque Isle, and event sponsors, the organizing committee and numerous volunteers have created a jam-packed schedule of competitive and community events to engage visitors, starting with opening ceremonies on Thursday.
The public is invited to attend the opening ceremonies on Thursday, Feb. 27 at 7:30 p.m. at Gentile Hall at the University of Maine at Presque Isle. It is a free, family-friendly event that includes music and light shows.
“The opening ceremonies give us a chance to welcome more than 400 athletes and coaches to Aroostook County and really sets the pace for the next week and a half of competitions and cultural events,” said Carolyn Dorsey, chair of the cultural and hosting committee for the Youth/Junior World Championship Biathlon. “It should appeal to a large audience.”
The first part of the ceremony provides an opportunity for spectators to welcome the athletes and get a better understanding of the countries they represent. The event’s second part is a chance for locals to entertain the international guests, giving the biathletes and their support team a glimpse of some exciting local talent.
“The organizing committee would like to thank MMG for their sponsorship of this event,” said Dorsey. “Sponsoring an event like this further emphasizes their continued support of the economic and cultural development of Aroostook County.”
The County community is well-known for welcoming such world-class events with open arms, through support from local businesses and the consistent efforts of numerous volunteers.
The opening ceremonies on Thursday night commences the nine-day international biathlon event that includes both competition and numerous social and cultural events, lasting through Friday, March 7. Activity is facilitated by an organizing committee and hundreds of volunteers and welcomes over 400 biathletes and their coaches and support staff to compete in beautiful northern Maine.
“The organizing committee is thrilled to kick off the biathlon events with a fast-paced, high-energy tribute to these athletes that have worked so hard to get to this level of competition,” said Dorsey. “It will give them a chance to share a global spotlight and be entertained before they begin their individual competitions.”
The first competitions, Youth Women Sprint and Youth Men Sprint, are scheduled for Friday morning and afternoon, followed by Sprint competitions for the Junior Women and Junior Men on Saturday. Additional competitions, including Pursuit, Individual, and Relay Competitions for both Youth and Juniors, are scheduled throughout the week. A full event schedule is viewable at www.biathlon-presqueisle.org.
