Fedcap’s Runway of Dreams Certifies the Para Biathlon Experience at International Biathlon Union Cup with GAMUT Seal of Approval

Lake Placid, NY — Runway of Dreams, an organization of Fedcap, today announced that the Para Biathlon Experience at the IBU Cup in Lake Placid has received the GAMUT Seal of Approval, a first-of-its-kind certification recognizing excellence in disability representation, accessibility, adaptive gear in sports and public experiences.

The certification recognizes the event’s commitment to authentic representation of people with disabilities — including the use of adaptive athletes in promotional imagery — and to creating meaningful opportunities for public participation in adaptive sport.

Lake Placid is hosting the IBU Cup at Mt. Van Hoevenberg across two consecutive weekends, February 26–March 1 and March 4–7. As the only IBU Cup stop outside Europe during the 2025–26 season, the event offers a rare opportunity for North American audiences to experience world-class biathlon competition. Taking place immediately after the Milano Cortina Olympic Winter Games, the competition showcases many of the sport’s top emerging athletes and marks the final two stops of the international season.

In partnership with U.S. Biathlon, the International Biathlon Union, and the National Center on Health Physical Activity and Disability, the Para Biathlon Experience brings adaptive athletes and Paralympic-style sport to the same iconic Olympic venue as elite international competitors.

"We are proud to be a partner of Runway of Dreams, helping to create opportunities that expand access to our sport,” said U.S. Biathlon President and CEO Jack Gierhart. “Bringing the Para Biathlon Experience to the IBU Cup in Lake Placid reflects our commitment to growing the sport in an inclusive way while giving fans a chance to see firsthand how adaptive athletes train and compete. Thank you to the IBU for their continued partnership and support that helped make this possible.”

The experience offers hands-on public engagement and demonstrates how adaptive design enables athletes of all abilities to participate in winter sport. Attendees can explore adaptive biathlon systems, including sonar-guided shooting technology allowing blind and visually impaired athletes to compete using sound-based system. The program is open to the public while also featuring para-athletes on site, offering spectators the opportunity to witness adaptive competition and experience the sport using the same modified equipment.

The GAMUT Seal of Approval recognizes the event’s leadership in advancing visibility and participation for people with disabilities — both on the field of play and in the way the event is presented to global audiences.

“Sport has the power to shape perceptions, expand opportunity, and demonstrate what is possible,” said Christine McMahon, President and CEO of Fedcap, parent organization of Runway of Dreams. “By elevating adaptive athletes, embracing accessible design, and ensuring authentic representation, the IBU Cup Para Biathlon Experience sets a powerful example for how global sporting events can open doors for athletes of all abilities while inspiring the next generation.”