Biathlon: an EYOF without Norway
On Monday, in the lists of results for the individual biathlon events at the Bakuriani 2025 European Youth Olympic Festival, the absence of Norwegian athletes was noticeable.
The reason for this decision can be found in the selection document published last autumn by the Norwegian Biathlon Association. “It was decided that Norwegian participation in the European Youth Festival was not appropriate on the basis of a cost-benefit analysis, it begins. Travelling requires financial and human costs at a time in the winter when we are giving priority to preparing for the world youth and junior championships.”
The Norwegian Federation goes on to state that its national circuit is a “good development area” for biathletes in the age group concerned (U17 second year, U19 first year). “The absence of participation in the EYOF does not affect participation in the Youth Olympic Games, which are held every four years.”
It should be noted that the Swedes and Germans, among the other leading biathlon nations, have also decided not to take part in the EYOF 2025.
- The full programme of the Bakuriani 2025 European Youth Olympic Festival
- Anouchka Neuville carried the French flag at the opening ceremony of the EYOWF Bakuriani 2025
- EYOWF Bakuriani 2025: words from Rosalie Odile, Juliette Oliva, Maëlle Achoui, Romane Ouvrier-Buffet, Emile Weiss, Nans Madelenat, Emile Perrillat-Bottonet and Esteban Moreira before they leave for Georgia
- EYOWF Bakuriani 2025: Dauphiné Nans Madelenat takes individual silver, Poland’s Grzegorz Galica takes gold
- “It’s a lot of fun”: Nans Madelenat, who won silver in the opening individual at the EYOWF Bakuriani 2025, made a success of his international debut.
- EYOWF Bakuriani 2025: behind an untouchable Michaela Strakova, Juliette Oliva takes the individual silver medal
- “I didn’t expect to come second at all”: the surprise and delight of Juliette Oliva, in silver in the Bakuriani 2025 EYOWF individual event
