The energy crisis also affects biathlon. But the changes are not quite as extensive as yet. However, be prepared for possible problems.
It must be saved. Also in biathlon. The energy crisis could force the organizers to rethink and possibly also to reschedule. But the changes in the biathlon circus are not quite as extensive as yet.
Biathlete Benedikt Doll calls for austerity measures: “You have to reduce all energy waste and all energy costs. As an association, as a World Cup location, because that always costs money.” In an interview with the sports show, Christian Winkler, IBU Communications Director, refers to the measures already in place in biathlon: “The organizers in the hosting contracts are already obliged to work in an energy- and resource-saving manner, such as in snow production or snow management.”
Energy guidelines are intended to provide assistance
Every venue must have a snow depot to ensure that as much snow as possible is brought in over the summer. “These are things that we have been pretending for years”, Winkler said. Energy guidelines have now been added, which athletes, officials and organizers should follow when the biathletes start in the World Cup for the first time on November 29th in Kontiolahti, Finland.
But the races will not be energy-saving. They are scheduled in such a way that floodlight use is unavoidable. Something that bothers biathlete Johannes Kühn: “Night races are such an issue, it doesn’t have to be”he said in the Sportschau interview.
In addition to the energy crisis, winter sports are facing a completely different challenge this winter: the upcoming soccer World Cup in Qatar is playing a major role. Due to the postponement of the tournament from summer to winter, the soccer games collide with the winter sports events, and there are parallel schedules.
In order to get TV times, the sport needs to find timeslots in which to broadcast. The problem: It gets dark early, especially in the northern regions, which means that floodlights are needed for TV productions in the middle of the day.
Postpone Biathlon World Cup?
To circumvent this problem, Kühn suggests moving the World Cup back, as is already being discussed in other winter sports, such as alpine skiing, where the season starts in October: “We’d rather start a week later, somewhere where there’s guaranteed snow. Maybe there’s an opportunity to do a week longer at the end.”
But even that turns out to be difficult. Depending on the weather, warm temperatures can already occur in March. The time window in which the World Cup takes place would be reduced even further if it were postponed to a later date.
IBU open to change
Nevertheless, the IBU is willing to compromise and does not want to stick rigidly to the race calendar. “Of course we have to deal with whether we are still future-proof as it is at the moment. The calendar framework planning also plays a role in this.”according to Winkler.
Despite everything, Winkler does not expect a wave of cancellations due to the energy crisis: “As of today, I would say that it will not come to that. We are in close contact with the organizers. I have not heard from anyone that something cannot be done or that a World Cup may have to be returned.”
But be prepared for the worst case scenario: “We as the IBU are flexible and can also provide support where possible.” However, the risk of weather-related cancellations regardless of the energy crisis remains: “You’re never immune to that. We’ve done well in recent years, and I hope that’s the case this season as well.”