Hot preparation phase begins: The ARENA am Rennsteig transforms into a World Cup venue
Almost four weeks before the first competition of the BMW IBU World Cup Biathlon 2025 in Oberhof, the ARENA am Rennsteig is increasingly being transformed into a World Cup venue. The mobile grandstands and video screens have already been erected, the tents on the event site are taking shape and the snow depots are being filled.
For the organizers of the BMW IBU World Cup Biathlon 2025 in Oberhof, the pre-Christmas period is anything but quiet and contemplative. Just under four weeks before the first competition - the women's sprint on Thursday, January 09, 2025 at 2:20 p.m. - work is underway at the Grenzadler. Wheel loaders and telescopic forklifts are reeling off kilometers, every helping hand is needed. “We are now in the hot phase of preparation. The progress of the work can be observed daily, actually even hourly. And it makes us realize that the World Cup is just around the corner, which we are extremely excited about despite all the tension,” says Bernd Wernicke, OC boss and Managing Director of Oberhof Sport und Event GmbH.
The mammoth logistical task of transforming the ARENA into a World Cup venue is shouldered by Christoph Loerzer and Marie Blaner-Hornung. The two logistics employees of Oberhofer Sport und Event GmbH have organized the event site with the competition area, spectator stands and Hüttendorf for months and are now putting it into practice. “At the moment, we are mainly working with service providers. When the major work completed, almost 20 volunteers will be on hand to set up and later dismantle. We have been a close-knit team for many years and can rely on each other,” they report.
The work is on schedule. The team area with 70 containers in the area of the caravan site, where the athletes can change and retire and the technicians can prepare the skis for upcoming competitions, is as good as finished. Most of the nine video screens in the ARENA and along the course are also up and running, video screen in the Hüttendorf is still to follow. The mobile grandstands, on which thousands of fans to cheer on the athletes, were taken down last Monday.
This week, the biathlon hut of DKB, a sponsor of the popular winter sport, continues to take shape. In addition, the construction of the organizer's VIP tent, which can accommodate exactly 767 guests. The TV compound is also being wired next to it. National and international television stations work in the containers, such as ZDF from Germany and NRK from Norway. From here, the TV images of the BMW IBU World Cup Biathlon 2025 will be broadcast to the world.
The construction of the Hüttendorf begins shortly before the turn of the year. This is where fans can buy drinks, food and fan merchandise before, during and after the competitions
and be entertained in the best possible way.
In terms of snow management, the organizers are benefiting from the current period of frost. “We will use the next few days effectively to create the necessary reserve for the Biathlon World Cup,” says Heiko Krause from the Thüringer Wintersportzentrum. After the snowfall of the past few nights, the free capacities of the snow depots in and around the ARENA am Rennsteig are now being filled.
FPhotos at your free disposal:
Photo: World Cup set-up work (1,2)
Caption: The tents on the event site, here the biathlon hut of sponsor DKB, are shooting up.
Photo source: Ronny Knoll/Zweckverband Thüringer Wintersportzentrum
Photo: World Cup construction work (3,4)
Caption: The mobile grandstands in the ARENA am Rennsteig are ready. Hundreds of fans will be seated here during the BMW IBU World Cup Biathlon 2025 in Oberhof.
Photo source: Ronny Knoll/Zweckverband Thüringer Wintersportzentrum