Just biathlon is a pronounced profile venture from the municipality of Östersund. For example, it has meant that almost every elite rider in the country has settled in the city and the sport is also a cornerstone of Mid Sweden University's sports research.

The biathlon stadium has been continuously upgraded over the years to keep Östersund up as an organizer city. For its own part, the municipality has invested about SEK 100 million and the same has been invested with other money, from the region and the EU, among others.

World Cup a good deal

The World Cup in biathlon is more clearly a good deal for Östersund, while the World Cup is clearly a prerequisite for the town to occasionally become relevant as a World Cup town.

When it is time for competitions again, a tight agreement regulates Östersund's commitments. In addition to free use of the competition facility and premises, the municipality will invest SEK 900,000 this time.

- I agree that the World Cup is no longer the same crowd. Of course, this is a problem and here we have a dialogue with the organizer, says the municipal council Bosse Svensson (C).

"Can't be the main sponsor"

Although it meant a small sting in the heart root when the biathlon association appointed Stockholm as the competition venue in the Olympic application submitted, Svensson thinks that the costs that biathlon entails balance against the benefits that the host provides.

- But in the long run, it is not time for us to be the main sponsor of such an arrangement without the business community having to intervene. This too is a discussion we are having with the union, explains Bosse Svensson.