The 28th Winter University Games are being held in Almaty, Kazakhstan. 

The Alatau Cross Country Skiing and Biathlon Complex was built in 2010 for the VII Winter Asian Games. It is located in the Soldatskoe Valley at the altitude of 1,460 to 1,500 m. The complex includes a ski and a biathlon stadiums. 

The International University Sports Federation, FISU, holds Universiades and  World Championships for university students every two years. 171 countries of 5 continents are members of FISU.

Click here for more background on the Winter Univeristy Games

Australia will be represented by Jillian Colebourn (Vic/AUS), Jeremy Flanagan (Vic/AUS), Timothy Flanagan (Vic/AUS) and Sabrina Howell (NSW/AUS). The athletes will race in a Sprint and Individual, with qualification to the Pursuit and Mass Start based on results in the Sprint and Individual. With 2M and 2F at the Games, AUS will be able to field a mixed relay team for the first time. 

Dual 2010 and 2014 Winter Olympian Alex Almoukov has been Australia's most successful biathlete at Winter University Games  winning a bronze medal in 2013. 

Click here for a schedule of events.