Biathlon at the Beijing Winter Olympics: competitions, schedule, favorites

Created: 01/12/2022, 12:13 PM

Erik Lesser from Germany 2018 in the men's 4 x 7.5 km relay at the Olympics in Pyeongchang © Hendrik Schmidt / dpa

The biathlon competitions will draw fans in front of the television sets at the 2022 Winter Olympics.

Information about disciplines, favorites and dates.

Beijing - On February 5, 2022, the biathletes will contest their first competition in Zhangjiakou in the Chongli district, around 180 kilometers from the Chinese capital.

With the mixed relay of biathlon, the athletes will open the round of medals at the 2022 Winter Olympics in the Zhangjiakou National Biathlon Center.

Biathlon: Information about the fast-paced sport at the 2022 Winter Olympics

Hardly any other winter sport offers such an attractive variety in the disciplines as biathlon. The Olympians not only impress with their stamina and strength. Rather, it is the successful combination of the opposing prerequisites of racing and the statics of shooting that often makes the difference between victory and defeat in this sport. It is important to reduce the high pulse of the running route as quickly as possible at the shooting range and not to let the restlessness of the heartbeat negatively influence the firing of the shot. Missed shots are punished with time penalties or additional running laps to be completed. The competitions of the 2022 Winter Olympics in biathlon will, by nature, probably take place on artificial snow. In addition, athletes and spectators in the over 1.500 meters high Biathlon Center icy temperatures well below 0 degrees Celsius.

Winter Olympics 2022: competitions, dates and broadcast in biathlon

All broadcasts of the 2022 Winter Olympics will be done with a time difference of seven hours for Germany.

The opening ceremony starts on the German live broadcast at 1 p.m.

The eleven medal decisions in biathlon at a glance:

• Saturday, February 5th

  - Mixed relay

• Monday, February 7th

  - 15 km individual run women

• Tuesday, February 8th

  - 20 km individual race men

• Friday, February 11th

  - 7.5 km sprint women

• Saturday, February 12th

  - 10 km sprint men

• Sunday, February 13th

  - Combination 10 km women and 12.5 km men

• Tuesday, February 15th

  - 4 x 7.5 km relay men

• Wednesday, February 16

  - 4 x 6 km relay women

• Friday, February 18th

  - 15 km mass start men

• Saturday, February 19th

  - 12.5 km mass start women

Due to the ongoing corona pandemic, most foreign fans will watch the competitions of the 2022 Winter Olympics live in front of the TV.

ARD and ZDF were able to secure the broadcasting rights for German television, which guarantees viewers a free broadcast that begins between 2 and 3 a.m. until around 6 p.m. in the evening.

In addition, the Eurosport broadcaster offers a paid live stream in the Eurosport player.

The airtime of the biathlon competitions is in the morning hours.

Biathlon: The favorites of the XXIV Olympic Winter Games in Beijing in 2022

The Nordic nations are still considered favorites in biathlon. Together with the German team, the Norwegians have dominated the overall standings in the competitions of the Olympic Winter Games so far. In January 2022, however, there are still question marks behind some athletes such as the strong German biathlete Franziska Preuss, who sustained an ankle injury just before Christmas 2021 and has to take a break of several weeks before the competitions in China. Nevertheless, the hopes of German fans are on a quick regeneration, qualification and medal winning in China, together with teammate Denise Herrmann. Tiril Eckhoff and Marte Olsbu Røiseland from Norway expect the greatest chances in the women's competitions.In the men's competitions, the Germans have to face the challenge from the strong biathlete Johannes Thingnes Bø from Norway. In addition, the French men's team can be expected. After the resignations of Laura Dahlmeier and Arnd Peiffer, the gaps in the team of the German Ski Association (DSV) have not yet closed again. Nevertheless, the DSV is expecting medals from experienced athletes such as Franziska Preuss, Maren Hammerschmidt, Erik Lesser, Roman Rees and Benedikt Doll. The German qualification ends on January 16, 2022.After the resignations of Laura Dahlmeier and Arnd Peiffer, the gaps in the team of the German Ski Association (DSV) have not yet closed again. Nevertheless, the DSV is expecting medals from experienced athletes such as Franziska Preuss, Maren Hammerschmidt, Erik Lesser, Roman Rees and Benedikt Doll. The German qualification ends on January 16, 2022.After the resignations of Laura Dahlmeier and Arnd Peiffer, the gaps in the team of the German Ski Association (DSV) have not yet closed again. Nevertheless, the DSV is expecting medals from experienced athletes such as Franziska Preuss, Maren Hammerschmidt, Erik Lesser, Roman Rees and Benedikt Doll. The German qualification ends on January 16, 2022.