A big bang: Björndalen comes to the European Biathlon Championships in Ridnaun

For over a year, OC boss Hans Widmann, competition director Manuel Volgger, the rest of the OC team and, above all, the Ridnaun sports club as the driving force have been preparing the European Biathlon Championships in Ridnaun Valley, which will take place for the third time after 3 and 1996 in this South Tyrolean biathlon -Make a stronghold station. Now the wait is over. “The preparations have largely been completed. Of course there is still a lot to do, especially on the track and in the stadium, but we are right on schedule,” said Volgger.

The major sporting event is only possible because everyone in Ridnaun, in the municipality of Ratschings and even in Wipptal pulls together. “We have excellent support from the local hospitality industry and many local businesses. And without the around 600 volunteers we would be completely lost anyway,” emphasized OC President Widmann in his welcoming speech, while Mayor Sebastian Helfer said: “It’s nice to see that there is this enormous cohesion in our community. We simply want to be a good host, true to the motto: Visiting friends.”

Karin Oberhofer is looking forward to the European Biathlon Championships Biathlete Karin Oberhofer also took part in the press conference. “I’m looking forward to the European Championships and would like to thank everyone who makes it possible for us to fight for medals here. I will try to do my best. When you run in front of your own fans, of course you always want to do particularly well, which is why the home European Championships are something unique even for an experienced athlete like me,” said the 33-year-old.

More top stars on the way In addition to Oberhofer, other members of the Italian senior national team are also expected. With Dorothea Wierer, Lisa Vittozzi, Alexia Runggaldier, Karin Oberhofer and Federica Sanfilippo for the women and Lukas Hofer and Dominik Windisch for the men, the “Azzurri” have registered all of their top athletes for the European Biathlon Championships. Whether these stars start effectively depends, of course, on their preparation for the Olympics.

IBU race director Felix Bitterling was able to name other top stars who had announced themselves at the media event. Starting with Ole Einar Björndalen, whose participation was confirmed by the Norwegian coaches. “Simon Fourcade and Jean-Guillaume Béatrix from the French team will probably fight for Olympic qualification in Ridnaun,” said Bitterling.

Exciting competitions over four days The competition program in Ridnaun begins on Wednesday, January 24th, when the new European individual champions will be crowned from 10 a.m. Friday, January 26th, however, is dedicated to the sprint competitions, which start at 11 a.m. The exciting pursuit competitions will hopefully captivate many spectators on Saturday, January 27th, from 13 p.m., before the title fights on Sunday, January 28th, with the single mixed relay (13 p.m.) and the mixed relay (15 p.m.) come to an end.

European Biathlon Championships in Ridnaun – January 22nd to 28th, 2018 Competition program: Monday, January 22nd: Opening ceremony on the stadium grounds (20 p.m.) Wednesday, January 24th: Men's singles (10 a.m.), Women's singles (13.30:XNUMX p.m.) Friday, January 26th: Sprint men (11 a.m.), Sprint women (14 p.m.) Saturday, January 27th: Men's Pursuit (13 p.m.), Women's Pursuit (15 p.m.) Sunday, January 28th: Single mixed relay (13 p.m.), mixed relay (15 p.m.)

SN

Football

Italy

International leagues

International

Winter sports

Tennis

Other sports

Motorsport

Cycling

Watersports

Events

Favorites

A big bang: Björndalen comes to the European Biathlon Championships in Ridnaun

Suggestions

Comments (0)