Can I compete if I am too young for the Canada Winter Games age range?

An athlete born after December 31, 2011 can only take part if Biathlon Canada approves an age dispensation. The Games biathlon competitions are designed for athletes who are 15 to 18 years old (Youth Men and Youth Women), and Biathlon Canada decides at its discretion whether the athlete is at the required level, expecting that they can compete at the level of the majority of the field or better.

The provincial or territorial sport organization must send Biathlon Canada a completed Request for Age Dispensation with:

• parent or guardian authorization (which confirms the athlete will compete in the Youth category against athletes aged 15 to 18);
• a positive recommendation and statement of ethics from the athlete's normal coach;
• divisional sanction, signed by the athlete's Biathlon Canada Division;
• objective evidence, in the form of published results, that the athlete has successfully competed in the Youth category in each of an Individual, a Sprint and a Pursuit competition.

Deadlines: the requirements and criteria must be achieved by January 24, 2027, and the completed request must be delivered to Biathlon Canada by January 25, 2027.

Source: 2027 Canada Winter Games Biathlon Technical Package, Appendix 3: https://biathlon.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/36-2027-Technical-Package-Biathlon-PUBLISHED.pdf