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Thus, winter begins as the previous one ended. Last year’s season ended abruptly with a corona pandemic.
The same pandemic means that Sjusjøen cannot organize the first ski race of the season.
– Due to the recommendation of the local authorities not to organize larger events in Ringsaker municipality, the start of the biathlon season will not take place in Sjusjøen 13-15. November, writes the biathlon association in a press release.
– We are the first to understand. We need to take the crown considerations into account first, Ingrid Tandrevold tells NRK.
If, contrary to expectations, they do not find a new organizer, there will be no season opener.
– Then I’ll be even more nervous before the World Cup starts. The most important thing is hiring. There are many who want to face the best and test what they have trained all season, says Tandrevold.
BELOW: Ingrid Tandrevold really wanted to go to Sjusjøen 13.-15. November. Here in action at Sjusjøen in 2018.
Photo: Berit Roald / NTB
The World Cup calendar has already been changed once. The unpredictability will never end.
– We are prepared for it to be a different year. Take things as they come and find solutions. The solution is to try to find an alternative scenario where there is not such a large outbreak of infection, he says.
Health first
Arne Horten is president of the Norwegian Biathlon Association. They are already working to find an alternative scenario.
The new organizing venue will have as much experience with this type of race as with snow. Therefore, there are not many candidates two weeks before the races are organized.
– The importance of keeping people healthy surpasses everything else in the moment we find ourselves. In light of the situation we are in and the work to narrow the scope of infection control, Ringsaker’s municipal chief, along with the race organizer and doctor, did a thorough evaluation and decided that the prudent thing to do was do not miss such a big sporting event in the municipality now. Of course we back that, says Norwegian Biathlon Association president Arne Horten.
– If nothing happens, Johannes and I can invite someone to Stryn, so we can have a local competition there, says Tarjei Bø.
– They wanted to crush us
If the opening fails, the opening of the World Cup in Kontiolahti on November 28 may also be the first test of this year.
– It’s part of the preparations, we love to compete. This is the best heating you can get, says Tarjei Bø.
– Sorry to all the recruiting brokers. There are many who really knock on the door, and they probably take the message a little heavier than the elite team. They were hoping to crush us in season one and their motivation here is to get into the World Cup, says Bø.
THINKING ABOUT RECRUITS: Tarjei Bø.
Photo: Berit Roald
