PRESQUE ISLE – The Nordic Heritage Ski Club is pulling off another first in the biathlon world this weekend as it hosts the 13th International Biathlon Union Organizers’ Meeting.

About 40 biathlon officials from overseas were beginning to arrive Wednesday in Presque Isle for the event, which takes place between Friday and Sunday.

Melanie Stewart, president of the ski club, said Wednesday that this is the first time the prestigious meeting ever has been held in the United States. The meeting is an annual de-briefing for all organizing committees who have hosted a Biathlon World Cup, world championship, or the Olympics.

“It’s quite an honor,” Stewart said. “For them to vote to come here, it was a vote of confidence to us and for this area.”

Last June, local biathlon officials Max Saenger and Ray Hews attended the 12th IBU Organizers’ Meeting in Finland, where 70 to 80 biathlon officials had gathered. In a bid for the 13th annual meeting during the event, Stewart said that it came down to the Nordic Heritage Center and a place in Russia, but that in the end, Presque Isle was awarded the honor.

“We just feel like they’re really welcoming us into the biathlon world,” Stewart said. “They’re taking us seriously.”

Because of high travel costs, Stewart said that fewer than expected officials from overseas were able to attend. With officials from Maine coming, she said that event organizers expect about 50 people to participate.

On Friday, officials will hold a roundtable discussion on reports submitted by organizing committees that held world championships, followed by evaluations of those events by IBU Race Director Franz Berger of Austria and IBU Executive Director Peter Bayer of Germany. Stewart said that at least 15 sites will be evaluated.

On Saturday, officials will hear a presentation by IBU President Anders Besseberg of Norway and Vice President of Sports Janez Vodicar of Slovenia. Later, they will take a tour of the 10th Mountain Center in Fort Kent. On Sunday, participants will attend breakout sessions on competition design, accreditation, and television coverage. They also will vote on the site for the 14th annual meeting.

While officials paid a fee to attend the event, Stewart said that the ski club is incurring some costs to host it. Club members voted to spend $2,500 for welcome packets, gifts, and for presentation efforts “to make it a first-class show.” She also said that three sponsors – the Aroostook Partnership for Progress, Northern Maine Development Commission, and the University of Maine at Presque Isle – will put on dinners during the event.

Local organizers are hoping that hosting the event will give IBU officials a chance to see what the Nordic Heritage Center has to offer and that it ultimately will help Presque Isle to secure a World Cup event.

“A World Cup is what puts you on the map,” Stewart said. “This should help us.”