Biathlon

Participants

Male and female athletes participate as individuals or in teams (in relay events) in different biathlon events.

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Playing Area

Biathlon takes place in a cross-country racing course which is clearly marked with flags and in which the shooting range is positioned near the start/finish line.

 

A typical range consists of up to 30 lanes, numbered from right to left. There may be two distinct areas- left for standing shooting and right for prone shooting.

 

The shooting targets are usually 11.5 cm wide for standing position and 4.5 cm wide for prone shooting.

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General Rules

Overall Race

 

Biathlon event consists of a cross-country race whose total distance is divided into two or four shooting rounds in which half takes place in prone position and half standing. In each shooting round, athletes must hit five targets.

 

Penalty

 

Each target missed in the shooting phase is penalised with an increase in the total route time/distance as follows (any one of the following):-

 

• Ski around 150-meter penalty loop, it takes around 20 to 30 seconds for elite biathletes to complete this distance

 

• One minute is added to the skier’s total time

 

• Use of an extra cartridge to hit the target.

 

Rifle Rules

 

Athletes carry 3.5 kg small-bore rifles on their backs throughout the race. These fire .22 ammunition and are loaded manually or have a five-bullet magazine.

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Officials

The Chief Of Course

 

Responsible for making the course ready for the competition.

 

The Chief Of Shooting

 

Responsible for managing all operations related to the shooting phase.

 

The Start Referee

 

Responsible for the smooth operation of the beginning of the event and determines the late or false start of the skiers. He/she must remain at the start until the end of the event.

 

The Finish Referee

 

Responsible for controlling the finish-line operations and checks whether a skier has finished the race or not.

 

The Chief Of Timing And Calculations

 

Responsible for coordinating with the start and finish officials about timing and calculations regarding the competitions.

 

Jury

 

Responsible for seeing that all competitions rules are followed.

 

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Events

Men’s Events

 

Sprint (10 km)

 

Pursuit (12.5 km)

 

Mass start (15 km)

 

Individual (20 km)

 

Relay (4 x 7.5 km)

 

Women’s Events

 

Sprint (7.5 km)

 

Pursuit (10 km)

 

Mass start (12.5 km)

 

Individual (15 km)

 

Relay (4 x 6 km)

 

Mixed Events

 

Relay (2 x 6 km + 2 x 7.5 km)

 

Multi-Sport Techniques

 

For biathlon techniques, refer individual sections of Cross-country skiing and Rifle Shooting.

General History

Biathlon has its roots belonged to the skiing tradition of Scandinavia. Later on, the activity was included by the military training in Norway. In the 18th century, Norwegian skiing regiments conducted military skiing competitions which were a great success.

 

In Norwegian, the biathlon is termed "Skiskyting" that literally means "Ski Shooting". Although biathlon events were held in the Winter Olympics of 1924, 1928, 1936 and 1948 termed as "Military Patrol" yet, it didn't get Olympic recognition because of some of the competing countries denied accepting the sport.

 

The first  Biathlon World Championship was conducted in 1958 and post two years, it gained the Olympic recognition. Female participants were allowed to participate in 1992.