Biathlon 2021 - 2022 Discussion Thread

[RobtheAggie 340]

Benny Weger has announced that he will retire at the end of the Season.  I had hoped he would hang on until Switzerland hosted the World Championships.  He is skipping the stop in Kontiolahti, but will race in Estonia and Oslo.

[RobtheAggie 340]

Kontiolahti has announced that they are bidding to host the 2027 World Championships.  The 2026 Championships will also be awarded at the next IBU Congress (September 2022).

[FireRun 197]

13 hours ago, RobtheAggie said:

Jakov Fak has announced that he plans on returning next season.

In my opinion the wrong decision. Only when he retires our biathlon will finally be able to move forward and the people running it will finally be forced to do something about the stagnation and deterioration that has been happening for the past few years. 

[FireRun 197]

Uroš Velepec says it's the end of the season for Ukrainian biathletes. Says some of them have been drafted into the army. 

 

https://siol.net/sportal/zimski-sporti/varovanci-slovenskega-trenerja-vpoklicani-v-ukrajinsko-vojsko-573684

[RobtheAggie 340]

And another one, Denise Herrmann has announced that she will decide on her career "in peace and at the right time for me.  The 2023 home World Cup in Oberhof can be a great motivation, as an active athlete usually only experiences something like this once in his career.  But if I continue, the overall package has to be right, I have to be convinced of the composition of the team."

 

She has committed to finish out this season.

[RobtheAggie 340]

For people who want to be informed of how the Ukrainian invasion has affected biathlon and the Nordic world, this is a great list of news that is updated as more comes available.  The newest are at the top. 

 

 

[JonPhi 250]

No more Start for Athletes under  and  flag for this season:

https://twitter.com/biathlonworld/status/1497579706278985728

[Grassmarket 4,103]

24 minutes ago, JonPhi said:

No more Start for Athletes under  and  flag for this season:

 

Could you repost? As far as I can see the story is that Estonia won’t let them into the country, therefore they can’t compete at Otepää but not more than that.

 

Ah, no, update here.  So the story is: No Russian or BLR teams at all, but all forthcoming host nations can ban the competitors from entering their country altogether if they wish.
 

https://www.biathlonworld.com/news/ibu-russia-ukraine-war/50crYBiHnYhvDFc57crpgg

[JonPhi 250]

43 minutes ago, Grassmarket said:

Could you repost? As far as I can see the story is that Estonia won’t let them into the country, therefore they can’t compete at Otepää but not more than that.

 

Ah, no, update here.  So the story is: No Russian or BLR teams at all, but all forthcoming host nations can ban the competitors from entering their country altogether if they wish.
 

https://www.biathlonworld.com/news/ibu-russia-ukraine-war/50crYBiHnYhvDFc57crpgg

I understand it so:

- No Russian/Belarus Athletes in Otepää anyway 

- Start for them under neutral flag in Kontiolahti and Oslo (so far), if the IBU invites them 

[Orangehair43 285]

Watch Russia go to CAS to oppose this.