Biathlon: 27 nations represented on the opening day of the World Cup
On Sunday 10 November, we are exactly twenty days away from the start of the great adventure of the 2024/2025 Biathlon World Cup. It is in Kontiolahti (Finland), in a stadium that will be returning to the highest international level for the first time in two years, that the hostilities are set to kick off.
On 30 November, a day dedicated to mixed events, with a mixed single relay followed by a mixed relay, will open this new edition of the World Cup in North Karelia. While the various national teams are currently fine-tuning their preparations in the four corners of Europe, the Kontiolahti World Cup organisers have announced the number and identity of the countries entered for this first stage of the season.
In all, 27 nations will be taking part to launch the 2024/2025 winter season in Finland. These national teams will include the best in the world (Norway, Sweden, Germany, France, Czech Republic, Italy, Austria), regulars on the circuit (Slovenia, Switzerland, Ukraine, Latvia, Slovakia, United States, Belgium, Canada, Estonia, Finland, Poland, Kazakhstan), as well as some of the lesser-known nations in the biathlon caravan (Australia, Lithuania, China, South Korea, Greece, Hungary, Moldova, Romania).
Ukaleq Slettemark will be absent from Greenland. As she explained to Nordic Magazine, she will start her season with the IBU Cup and will only take part in a few World Cup events, in addition to the World Championships in Lenzerheide (Switzerland). These will be in Hochfilzen (Austria) in December, Oberhof (Germany) and Ruhpolding (Germany) in January and Oslo-Holmenkollen (Norway) in March.
The list of the 27 national teams entered for the Kontiolahti Biathlon World Cup 🇫🇮
- Australia 🇦🇺
- Belgium 🇧🇪
- Bulgaria 🇧🇬
- South Korea 🇰🇷
- Italy 🇮🇹
- Austria 🇦🇹
- Kazakhstan 🇰🇿
- Canada 🇨🇦
- China 🇨🇳
- Greece 🇬🇷
- Latvia 🇱🇻
- Lithuania 🇱🇹
- Moldova 🇲🇩
- Norway 🇳🇴
- Poland 🇵🇱
- France 🇫🇷
- Romania 🇷🇴
- Sweden 🇸🇪
- Germany 🇩🇪
- Slovakia 🇸🇰
- Slovenia 🇸🇮
- Finland 🇫🇮
- Switzerland 🇨🇭
- Czech Republic 🇨🇿
- Ukraine 🇺🇦
- Estonia 🇺🇦
- United States 🇺🇸
The full programme for the Kontiolahti Biathlon World Cup 🇫🇮
Saturday 30th November
- 1.15pm: Mixed singles relay
- 3.45pm: Mixed relay
Sunday 1st December
- 1.45pm: Men’s 4×7.5km relay
- 5.25pm: Women’s 4x6km relay
Tuesday 3rd December
- 4.20pm: Men’s 15km individual short
Wednesday 4 December
- 4.20pm: Women’s individual short 12.5 km
Friday 6 December
- 4.20pm: Men’s 10km sprint
Saturday 7 December
- 5.10pm: Women’s 7.5km sprint
Sunday 8 December
- 2.30pm: men’s 15 km mass-start
- 5.10pm: women’s 12.5km mass-start
- The countdown is on: the 2024/2025 World Cup kicks off in a month’s time in Kontiolahti
- With Lisa Vittozzi, Dorothea Wierer and Tommaso Giacomel: Italy (already) unveils its selection for the Kontiolahti World Cup
