Any Latvian biathlon fans who are planning to visit the Biathlon World Cup in Otepää, Estonia in March will be able to use a special bus from Tartu, the organizers have announced.
The only BMW IBU Biathlon World Cup in the Baltics will take place in Otepää from March 12th to 15th, with several Latvian competitors among those taking part.
Spectators will be able to easily reach Estonia’s winter sports capital, Otepää, by special bus from Tartu – perhaps in combination with the new direct rail connection from Rīga to Tartu which is due to launch next week.
“The purpose of the special bus is to provide visitors with convenient and safe access to the competition venue, as well as to reduce traffic congestion in the Otepää area, where thousands of spectators from Estonia and abroad will gather during the World Cup weekend,” said Aivars Nigols, Chairman of the Otepää World Cup Organizing Committee.
The special buses will run on the Tartu-Otepää-Tartu route, and will depart from the lower parking lot of the Tartu “Vanemuine” theater and the Otepää bus station. The one-way trip will take approximately 50 minutes. The buses will run several times a day on each competition day, from Thursday to Sunday, taking into account both the start and end times of the competition and the evening entertainment programme.
Since there are limited accommodation options in Otepää during the World Cup, Latvians staying in Tartu will have a practical accommodation option, as well as good access to train and bus services. “Many spectators will stay in Tartu and travel to Otepää only for the competition. The special bus will give them the opportunity to get to Otepää without using personal transport,” explained Nigols.
In addition, the use of public transport will help reduce traffic congestion and the ecological footprint in the Otepää area.
“We want the organization of the World Cup to be as environmentally friendly as possible. The special buses are a concrete step in this direction,” said Nigols. “Well-organized transport is an important part of the overall visitor experience and helps ensure a smooth event from both the spectators’ and the local residents’ perspective.”
The BMW IBU World Cup in Otepää will take place just a few weeks after the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, so spectators will have the opportunity to follow the new Olympic champions as well as cheer on their favourites. The competition will be available to watch from the shooting range and stadium stands, as well as on the sidelines. Over the four days of competition, the world’s best athletes will compete in sprint, pursuit, medley and pair relay events. Children under 12 can watch the competition for free.
More information about the bus schedule, stops, and tickets can be found on the event website biathlonotepaa.com.
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