This decision has been met with mixed reactions by the biathletes. The winner of the Big Crystal Globe trophy the last two years, Johannes Thingnes Boe, was critical when the schedule for 20-21 season was first made public in April. Telling Norwegian Tv channel NRK, that the Super Sprint is a discipline where accidents like breaking a ski pole can have larger ramifications than other disciplines due to the short distance which is to be skied. Because of this, he would have preferred if the inauguration of this discipline would not have been during the final weekend of the World Cup season, when nerves often are running wild.
He indicated that in his opinion it would have been better to test the event with no points awarded during the opening weekend of the World Cup, in Kontiolathi.
Vetle Sjaastad Christiansen seems to disagree, telling NRK that in his opinion IBU’s decision to backtrack is a bit cowardly. He thinks that the Super Sprint would make Biathlon even more exciting and cannot understand how the IBU can disagree. Furthermore he indicates that the Super Sprint likely would be able to attract a younger audience to the sport, due the fact that it packs a lot of action in a rather short amount of time.
If you would like to take a look at the biathlon calendar 2020/21, this is available at focusbiathlon.com.
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