The first Biathlon World Championships in Switzerland have gone down in history as a great success. The CEO draws a thoroughly positive organizational conclusion.
23.02.2025, 11:32
23.02.2025, 11:35
SDA
Jürg Capol gets straight to the most important point. "I'm sitting in front of you happy and satisfied," says the CEO of the Biathlon World Championships in Lenzerheide in a media round before the final races. With over 80,000 spectators over nine days of competition - including free tickets for sponsors and school classes - expectations were more than fulfilled. "That's what I would have wished for before the start." Around 60 to 65 percent of them came from Switzerland.
New on the biathlon map
We shouldn't forget: "Up until 14 months ago, maybe 1000 Swiss people attended a biathlon World Cup or World Championships," emphasizes Capol. "And that was mostly family or fan clubs of athletes." In Switzerland, there was no basis, no experience for biathlon before the first World Cup was held in Lenzerheide in December a year ago as a dress rehearsal for the World Championships. "Now biathlon is also on the map in Switzerland."
The spectator response was one thing, the logistics another. After the construction and further expansion of the biathlon arena in Lantsch near Lenzerheide, the bid for the World Championships was accepted in record-breaking time, "almost surprisingly quickly", Capol says with a grin. Since he joined the team two and a half years ago, they have had four main problems: "No organizing committee, too little space, only eight free beds in the main season and no logistics and transport concept." Everything was solved satisfactorily, and minor problems such as a lack of toilets at peak times were resolved promptly.
The beautiful weather also contributed to the good atmosphere. As Capol recounts with some pride, there was a lot of praise for the organization. "When the race director of the IBU (International Biathlon Union) says that he hasn't received a single complaint from the teams, and he's never experienced that before, that's actually the highest compliment you can receive." The reward is also that Lenzerheide will be back on the World Cup calendar in 2028 and 2030.
Aiming for sustainability
Now it's all about sustainability, the so-called "legacy". Capol cites South Korea and China as negative examples. A lot has been invested in World Cups and Olympic Games, but no athletes from the two Asian countries took part in this year's World Championships.
Capol will be able to see for himself that Swiss skiers continue to play a leading role in biathlon in the future. From April 1, the former cross-country skier and long-time FIS Nordic Marketing Director will become Swiss-Ski Director.
