After the event had to be canceled due to Corona in recent years, the biathlon sport will return to the Schalke Veltins Arena in 2022. The second division soccer team confirmed this on Wednesday.
According to the official press release, ten mixed teams will take part in the biathlon race at Schalke on December 28, 2022.
Thorsten Kramer, Head of Sales Events, Ticketing and Services at FC Schalke 04, explained: “The atmosphere in the VELTINS Arena is simply unique. It’s not for nothing that the biathlon at Schalke is one of the most popular winter sports events – both with the spectators and with the Athletes. The proven competition concept will ensure exciting duels.”
According to the press release, tickets purchased for the canceled events of the last two years remain valid, but can still be exchanged. The other tickets are already available for general sale.
“Last winter we were able to implement the Biathlon WTC as a pure TV production without spectators in my home town of Ruhpolding. But we all felt how much we missed the great fans at Schalke,” said Herbert Fritzenwenger, sporting director of the race. who expects over 40,000 spectators at Schalke.
Schalke fans see Neuner’s farewell race
The biathlon race in the Gelsenkirchen football arena was held for the first time in 2002 and has since secured a permanent place on the winter sports calendar. This was also ensured by the extremely prominent field of participants every year. Even the biggest names in the World Cup circus came to Schalke and ran there for victory.
The event experienced a very special moment in 2012, when Magdalena Neuner, one of the most successful biathletes of all time, gave her official farewell race. More than 50,000 fans live on site and more than five million TV viewers followed the race back then.