Biathlon festival in Munich to feature Nawrath, Strelow and Grotian

A new city-centered biathlon showcase is coming to Munich’s Olympic Park, as the IBU Loop One Festival brings international athletes into the heart of the city on ski rollers. Competitors will loop a 1.8 km circuit and shoot at a temporary, 15-lane range built over part of the Olympic lake, using standard .22-caliber rifles while racing on roller skis.

Headliners include Sturla Holm Lægreid, Eric Perrot, and Germany’s Philipp Nawrath, with many more international names expected. Germany’s Franziska Preuss, the pursuit world champion, had praised the concept and the Munich setting but will sit out due to a persistent hand injury. The main program features 60 men and 60 women split into four heats each, with super‑sprint finals scheduled for 15:30 (men) and 16:15 (women). Sportschau will livestream both finals. No World Cup points will be awarded.

Beyond racing, organizers emphasize outreach. IBU sports director Daniel Böhm says the aim is to keep biathlon attractive to younger audiences and families and to ensure the sport’s future as snow becomes less reliable. Roller‑ski formats like Loop One, he argues, help maintain training quality and could inform how the sport evolves while preserving its appeal. The festival includes a broader entertainment program designed to bring biathlon to where people are.

Source: BR24Sport via Sportschau.