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Welcome to Vuokatti and the 2009 IPC Biathlon and Cross Country Skiing World Championships. For the last 3 years we have all been preparing for this moment.
For Us here in Vuokatti it has been more than just these past years of preparing for such an event as these World Championships. We are truly commited to offering top conditions to all who dream and work towards Sporting Excellence We are deeply honoured and privileged to not only receive the world’s best paralympians but also be part of the Paralympic movement!
We sincerely hope that your time and events here will fill you with pleasurable memories and that success reign upon all of us during the time of the event.
Finally we thank you for “Coming to Meet the Challenge!”
Jyri Pelkonen
2009 IPC Biathlon & Cross Country Skiing World Championships
President
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It is a great honour and pleasure for me to welcome you on behalf of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) to the 2009 IPC Biathlon & Cross-Country Skiing World Championships.
In the Municipality of Sotkamo, athletes from all over the world will come together to be part of this unique and challenging sporting experience. Besides being about elite sport performance, these Championships are even more importantly about friendship - as shown in fair sportsmanship.
To make this exceptional experience possible, many hands and hearts are needed. I, on behalf of the entire International Paralympic Committee, would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to the Organizing Committee, the IPC Nordic Skiing Technical Committee, the Finnish National Paralympic Committee, the Municipality of Sotkamo, suppliers, sponsors, the technical staff and the officials for their contributions.
Furthermore, I want to mention the countless volunteers, without whom this event could not take place and above all the athletes from our member nations, who form the centrepiece of this event. Thank you all!
Wishing all of you successful and highly competitive IPC Biathlon & Cross-Country Skiing World Championships with outstanding competitions reflecting the true sportsmanship of the Paralympic spirit!
Sir Philip Craven, MBE
International Paralympic Committee
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