Good governance is crucial in any organisation, ensuring that transparency, accountability, efficient decision-making and other important ethical and integrity issues are properly considered and integrated into the way the organisation is run.

The BIU has launched a new governance project, with the aim of enhancing governance standards throughout biathlon’s National Federations (NFs). The project involves:

• assessing current governance practices within NFs
• developing a comprehensive governance framework for NFs, including:
  • core governance principles
  • ethical standards
  • compliance guidelines.

Good governance helps NFs act in the best interests of all their stakeholders, beginning with athletes and the sport itself. By demonstrating that an NF is well-run, performance can increase, and financial results improve. Good governance can result in increased revenue and maximise attractiveness to commercial partners.

By implementing good governance principles, trust from athletes, as well as other stakeholders and partners, can be increased.

Taking the lead

The BIU is here to help NFs in defining their good governance goals and support them as they are implemented. As part of these plans, each NF will be asked to nominate a staff member or volunteer to lead on governance matters. This individual can be an existing team member whose responsibilities will expand to include working with the BIU to implement good governance.

This project will be led by the BIU’s new team member Julia Cook, our Governance Coordinator. Julia joins us from the ITA education team and has also recently completed a research project on sports ethics and integrity.

Each NF’s governance contact will work with Julia and the BIU, receiving materials and the continuing support required to enhance organisational governance standards across biathlon.

We welcome feedback on both this project and what good governance means to you.