‘This is how work is fun": Organisers draw a positive World Cup conclusion
At the end of the BMW IBU World Cup Biathlon 2025 in Oberhof, the organisers draw a positive conclusion. They are already looking ahead to the World Cup preparations in January 2026 and the allocation of the next World Cup series.
287 athletes, 57,700 enthusiastic visitors on site, millions in front of the TV sets worldwide: the BMW IBU World Cup
worldwide: the BMW IBU World Cup Biathlon 2025 in Oberhof was a total success. Despite the capricious weather on the first competition day, the organisers in the ARENA am Rennsteig were able to offer the athletes the best competition conditions. Also aside from the sporting action, the Rennsteig town was once again transformed into a hotspot for biathlon fans. ‘We were well prepared. And the things we could influence worked. The cooperation of full-time and voluntary workers is functioning better and better. What more could you want, when you're rewarded with fantastic weather at the end. This is how work is fun’, said Bernd Wernicke, head of the Oberhof organising committee and managing director of Oberhof Sport and Event GmbH.
But the World Cup organisers do not want to rest on their laurels, as they are already looking ahead to the 2026 World Cup and the allocation of the World Cups for the years 2027 to 2030, which is still pending this season. ‘We have submitted our application documents, with which we definitely don't have to hide, and we know that the DSV
and Ruhpolding would like to remain an integral part of the World Cup,’ says Wernicke.
Exemplary course preparation
The white surface at Grenzadler also presented itself in its best light, which was prepared with great attention to detail at the end of December and continuously built up. ‘Overall, the conditions were much better than last year. The good
preparation with a few days of frost, a reliable weather forecast and a very well operating stadium and course crew were the basis for the competition conditions that were highly appreciated and praised by the race director. In addition to the established faces, we also have new ones in the OC, the chemistry is getting better and better,’ said Heiko Krause, technical operations manager of the Thuringian Winter Sports Centre (Zweckverbandes Thüringer Wintersportzentrum).
The insights gained in the recent past and the continuous dialogue with representatives of the IBU and DSV are paying off, according to Krause: ‘Our team knows what works and what doesn't from previous years. Before and during the World Cup, there are so many tasks that you don't even see as a spectator, sometimes not even as an athlete. In these individual areas were always good communication and clear processes. We can only give huge praise to everyone involved.’