| What is the Biathlon Event in the Whistler Olympics? | | | | The biathlon event in the Olympics has both men and |
| The winter sport biathlon involves "two tests": cross | | | | women competitions. There are individual and team |
| country skiing and small calibre rifle target shooting. | | | | events and in total the winter biathlon Olympic event |
| The equivalent summer biathlon sport combines cross | | | | involves 10 separate events of cross country skiing |
| country running with rifle shooting. Biathlon athletes | | | | and target shooting. They range from: |
| must have natural talents ranging from: extreme | | | | - Individual (interval start): 15 km for women and 20 |
| physical stamina and strength for the cross country | | | | km for men |
| skiing portion and the rifle shooting demands careful | | | | - Sprint (interval start): 7.5 km for women and 10 km |
| precision and control. | | | | for men |
| To win the event, the biathlete must complete the | | | | - Pursuit : 10 km for women and 12.5 km for men |
| race in the least amount of time, and shoot as many | | | | - Relay: 4 x 6 km for women and 4 x 7.5 km for |
| targets as possible to prevent incurring time penalties. | | | | men |
| Whistler Olympics - The Types of Biathlon Events | | | | - Mass start: 12. 5km for women and 15 km for men |
| The skier begins the race by first finishing a cross | | | | The History & Popularity of Biathlon |
| country ski loop which can be 2 to 4 kilometers | | | | The Olympic biathlon event (men only) was first |
| depending upon the competition format. Next, they | | | | brought into the Olympics in 1960 Squaw Valley |
| must enter into the shooting range (stadium) and | | | | Olympics. The women's biathlon Olympic event was |
| shoot five times at a metal target located 50 metres | | | | introduced in 1992 at the Albertville, France Olympics. |
| away. The target hit area is changes depending on | | | | There are numerous World Cup events, in addition to |
| the competitor's shooting position: prone or standing. | | | | the Olympic events, which began much than it's |
| If in prone position, the hit area is 45 mm (similar to a | | | | inclusion in the Olympics. It is remarkably more |
| golf ball size) and if in standing position the hit area is | | | | popular in Europe and boasts to have larger television |
| 115mm (similar to the size of a large grapefruit). | | | | viewing audiences than most other winter sports. |
| Usually it takes a competitor 20 to 25 seconds to aim | | | | Biathlon in 2010 Whistler Olympics |
| and fire five bullets. If a target is missed, there is a | | | | The biathlon event is scheduled to be in the 2010 |
| penalty, depending on the event, it could be one | | | | Winter Olympics starting February 14th to 26th, 2010. |
| minute of added time or skiing another 150-metre lap. | | | | The competition will be held in the newly built |
| Also, the clock continues to tick throughout the | | | | Whistler Olympic Park in Callaghan Valley |
| shooting portion. The athlete must both ski fast and | | | | approximately 18 kilometres southwest of Whistler |
| shoot fast to finish the race in the least amount of | | | | on the Sea to Sky highway. |
| time. | | | | |