Ready for action: Volunteers prepare for the Biathlon World Cup
A total of 725 volunteers will support the organizers of the BMW IBU Weltcup Biathlon 2025 in Oberhof. With the kick-off event in Oberhof, they were prepared for their responsibilities in the ARENA am Rennsteig. The traditional information event marks the start of the hot phase of preparations for the top sporting event.
They are judges and stewards in the ARENA and on the track, work at the box office, sell merchandise in the fan store and are responsible for the supporting program. The organizing committee of Oberhofer Sport und Event GmbH can rely on an average of 650 volunteers per competition day for the top sporting event from 9 to 12 January 2025. They will ensure that the six competitions run smoothly.
They received the most important information for their tasks around the ARENA am Rennsteig - from accreditation to the volunteer parking lot to supplies - this Saturday (November 30, 2024) - just in time for the start of the biathletes' season in Kontiolahti, Finland. The kick-off took place at the Haus des Gastes in Oberhof, where the volunteers traditionally pledge to work together before, during and after the BMW IBU World Cup 2025. “The sports family is coming together again. I am delighted that you want to help us organize the World Cup again, because we need every helping hand. Your work is indispensable, you are the backbone of our event,” emphasized OC boss Bernd Wernicke.
More than 20.000 volunteer hours
The majority of volunteers are organized in Thuringian winter sports clubs. In total, the 725 volunteers put in over 20,000 volunteer hours before, during and after the World Cup.
Permanent helper base, 25 new volunteers
Oberhofer Sport und Event GmbH relies to a large extent on a permanent pool of helpers who have been involved in the Biathlon World Cup for years or even decades and have gained indispensable experience for the event. 25 new volunteers have been added to the pool. “We are all the face of the event. We want to welcome the biathlon family, the athletes, the teams and the fans with a smile and open arms and once again put on a top-class sporting event,” said Volunteer Manager David Baumann.
Following the most recent Biathlon World Cup in January 2024, a number of key positions on the organizing committee have been filled. Michael Herbach was introduced as deputy head of the OC at the kick-off. As a club representative, he is the permanent link to the Thüringer Skiverband e.V., which provides the volunteers. Competition director Mario Milde-Apel will now be assisted by Peter Sendel as competition secretary. Tim Eisner will be responsible for the Hüttendorf area, Marcus Diller for the Sustainability area, Philipp Körner for the Safety area and René Buhr for the Traffic area.
The information event has been an integral part of the preparations for years and is intended to intensify the exchange with the organizer of the BMW IBU Biathlon World Cup in Oberhof, Oberhofer Sport und Event GmbH. “Only if all volunteers have all the important information at hand and know what to do can we act as a team and manage a world-class World Cup,” said OC boss Bernd Wernicke.
Photo source: Susann Eberlein/ Oberhofer Sport und Event GmbH