Biathlon Boom in Munich: A New Opening Event?

Biathlon Boom in Munich?

Biathlon is booming and has been Germany's leading winter sport for years. Now, the ski marksmen aim to draw in even more fans with an event right in the middle of downtown Munich. This could happen as soon as next year.

Traditionally, biathletes kick off their World Cup winter at the end of November in Östersund. In the upcoming season, they will again traverse the solitary forests of Sweden for the start. However, reports suggest that next year's season opener might look quite different with a true biathlon spectacle.

According to the Norwegian broadcaster NRK, the IBU wants to kick off the 2025/26 season with an opening event in Munich, scheduled for October 19 — more than a month earlier than usual. This model resembles the Alpine Ski World Cup, which begins with a grand event in Sölden in October before taking a short break before resuming in Northern Europe or America.

Excitement from Biathlon Stars

Norwegian biathlon star Johannes Thingnes Bö is enthusiastic about the idea, saying, "That would be fun," when asked by NRK. His teammate Vetle Sjastad Christiansen also views a race in the heart of the Bavarian metropolis positively, going so far as to say, "The fact that you don't have to travel far into the mountains or forests to see biathlon is, in my opinion, the salvation of our sport."

Urban Biathlon Events

An official decision about the event has not yet been made, and therefore the IBU has refrained from commenting in detail. The federation emphasized that it is "constantly working on ideas and concepts that improve the sport and reach the broadest audience possible."

A crucial part of this is evaluating the season-opening format, which has led to discussions about presenting world-class biathlon in an urban setting to attract a new audience. Munich, as a sports-loving city with a strong winter sports culture, fits the bill perfectly.

Challenges Ahead

While the alpine stars previously held events at Munich's Olympiaberg in 2011 and 2013, those were discontinued due to snow shortages and associated complications. However, the biathletes don’t see this as an obstacle. According to NRK, this would be a roller skiing event, which is expected not to count toward World Cup rankings.

The lack of points might discourage some stars from participating in Munich. For example, Sturla Holm Lægreid acknowledged that he would likely abstain, considering the proximity to the Olympic Games. Also, Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold raised concerns about not overwhelming the athletes.

In October, the athletes are typically in full preparation mode, and team manager Per Arne Botnan noted that they would usually be at altitude training, making it a balancing act between training and public appearances.

While there are still unresolved questions, a potential Munich event aligns with several relevant future factors. Particularly in light of climate change, many winter sports are compelled to develop concepts that can succeed away from cold and snowy conditions, and biathlon is no exception.