 Athletes participating in the Biathlon World Cup practice at the Alpensia Biathlon Stadium in PyeongChang, Gangwon Province, Tuesday. / Yonhap |
Staff Reporter
Pyeongchang will welcome snowlovers today with the Biathlon World Cup, following the crystal clear snowfall that blanketed the nation Monday.
The World Cup will be held at the Alpensia Biathlon Stadium until March 2. More than 300 athletes from 30 countries will compete in the winter sport, which is most popular in Europe.
Biathlon is a sport that combines cross-country skiing and rifle shooting. It originated from an exercise for Norwegian soldiers and was introduced to the world at the Olympic Winter Games in 1924.
The main competitions at the World Cup will consist of five events ― men and women's sprints and pursuits, along with the mixed relay. The games will be broadcasted live throughout Europe and video broadcasted in Korea as well.
Pyeongchang has spent years preparing for this international event, with the construction of new stadiums and other publicity work in and out of the nation. It went through a disappointing year in 2007, failing in a bid to host the 2014 Winter Olympics. However, fascinated by the enthusiasm toward winter sports of the government and the locals, delegations voted Pyeongchang over Russia to host the Biathlon World Championship in 2009 ― the first time ever for a non-European country to hold the event.
The World Cup will be a sneak preview of biathletes competing to improve their ranks in the international race. Visitors will be able to get a glimpse of winter Olympic medallists, including top-ranking men's biathlete Ole Einer Bjorndalen of Norway.
The World Cup will also be a good opportunity to introduce Pyeongchang as a winter sports mecca and perhaps improve its chances at a successful bid to host the 2018 Winter Olympics.
In past years, non-European biathlon athletes had difficulty preparing and participating in various biathlon events due to location problems. Even in Korea, biathlon is not a popular sport, but organizers of the event are hoping to change that.
``Biathlon is very exciting with speed and thrilling moments,'' said Sohn Chang-hwan, one of the organizers. ``The World Cup will surely open the eyes of Koreans and hopefully turn biathlon into a popular winter sport, along with skiing and snowboarding.''
The events will start at 6 p.m. tonight, and visitors can visit the stadium and enjoy the snowy European sport right before their eyes.
sanghee@koreatimes.co.kr
