The IBU will hold its Congress virtually in November ©IBU

The International Biathlon Union (IBU) will award its 2024 and 2025 World Championships virtually after confirming its Ordinary Congress this year will be held remotely because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Members of the IBU had been due to gather for the Congress in Czech capital Prague from November 13 to 15.

The IBU Executive Board has retained the same dates but said the event would now be staged online as a result of travel restrictions and other measures imposed across the world in response to the COVID-19 crisis.

The vote for the 2024 and 2025 World Championships hosts will be among the main items on the agenda at the Congress.

Nové Město na Moravě in the Czech Republic is bidding for the 2024 Biathlon World Championships ©Getty Images
Nové Město na Moravě in the Czech Republic is bidding for the 2024 Biathlon World Championships ©Getty Images

Nové Město na Moravě in the Czech Republic is the only candidate for the 2024 event and is set to be rubber-stamped as the host at the Congress.

Lenzerheide in Switzerland and Minsk-Raubichi in Belarus are vying for the right to host the 2025 World Championships.

One place on the IBU's ruling Executive Board is up for grabs at the Congress after Poland's Dagmara Gerasimuk stood down.

Gerasimuk relinquished her role on the Executive Board after becoming the IBU's development director.

The status of the Russian Biathlon Union, relegated to provisional membership following the country's doping scandal, and the IBU's strategic plan could also be discussed during the Congress.

The IBU has joined numerous other sports governing bodies in deciding to hold their Congress virtually, including FIFA and the International Olympic Committee.