South Tyrolean power for the biathlon world

Congratulations on your nomination. Are you the first South Tyrolean to hold such a position in the IBU?

Martin Stricker: “Yes, I am the first South Tyrolean to be directly employed by the IBU. The company Siwidata has been working for timekeeping and data analysis for the IBU for decades, but as an external service provider.”

Can you explain your area of responsibility to us in more detail?

“As a sports manager, I am part of the sports and events department in the IBU. We are always in contact with the race directors in the World Cup (Borut Nunar), IBU Cup (Kristijan Oja) and IBU Junior Cup (Arne Eidam). They are used to set out competition programs and the secretaries also take care of all sorts of travel planning and we also program future events in advance. And you often have to react flexibly, as was the case recently with the cancellation of the IBU competitions in Sjusjoen and the new plan for Idre. Therefore, contact with the various organizing committees is always important.”

Are there general guidelines that everyone has to adhere to?

“Of course there are, because clear rules are the strength of an association. However, some things have relaxed with regard to the Covid measures; there are no longer strict regulations, but rather preventative measures that everyone has to adhere to. But we’re doing well with that.”

So you will be traveling there a lot.

"I have my office at the IBU headquarters in Salzburg, but when the competition season starts, I will be at the venue in many places, for example in December in Idre, then in Martell for the IBU Junior Cup and in Ridnaun for the IBU Cup.”

Martin Stricker will also be there at the IBU Cup in Ridnaun. © Sportissimus

Do you also help the race directors?

“On site they are in charge. We are more there to maintain contact with the individual OCs and the nations. There are always numerous questions and points that need to be clarified.”

Speaking of nations: Have you recently had any advances from the now excluded nations of Russia and Belarus?

"No, not yet."

But you will be missed in Martell now.

"I do not think so. With Katharina Fleischmann we now have a capable young person on board who is doing her job very well and can easily replace me, especially since she will also be taking the referee exam soon. But there is a strong team at work in Martell anyway, and that is the real power in my home valley.”

A valley that can already look forward to the 2025 European Championships. Were your contacts also involved?

“The proposal has been around for some time, but the IBU has a precise approach. The sports department makes the suggestions together with the technical committee, then the board makes the final decision. Martell well deserves the award thanks to its excellent organization over the last few years.

Interview: Luis Mahlknecht

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South Tyrolean power for the biathlon world

The International Biathlon Union (IBU) has a new sports manager: Martin Stricker from Martell took over this position at the beginning of November. In an interview he explains his new tasks.

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