The World Cup in biathlon and cross-country skiing kicks off the same weekend at the end of November and in the same country.

The cross-country skiers start in Ruka and the biathletes in Kontiolahti.

But when the long-distance circus then moves on from Finland to three different countries (Norway, Switzerland and Germany), the biathletes make just one more stop before Christmas - in the Austrian Hochfilzen.

The International Biathlon Federation, IBU, has chosen to corona adapt the competition program and cut back on travel.

Instead, they stay in the resorts for two weeks.

Very good

- I think the IBU has been very good at adapting the program.

This feels like a very feasible program.

We halve almost all travel and it feels like it should be possible to implement.

But it is a changing time, so that things can still happen, says Sebastian Samuelsson when TT meets him in connection with the national team camp in Idre.

The IBU has flagged that further changes may be made to the program.

In parallel, the International Ski Federation (Fis) has chosen to keep the original program with thirteen stops and seven different countries during the season, although the Fis management has also opened up for changes.

Sebastian Samuelsson thinks that Fis closes its eyes to the problems that exist with the corona pandemic.

- I do not think they will be able to keep it and if they do, it feels irresponsible, if I am to be completely honest.

There, the IBU has been much, much smarter.

I read somewhere that it should be a matter of rights.

IBU owns the competitions themselves, but for Fis it is the local organizers and no one wants to drop a competition there.

I will be very surprised if they can complete their program, he says and continues:

- As a skier, I do not know either ... I would not have felt completely comfortable with the schedule and the strain it entails.

CLIP: Elvira Öberg on tough training

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Elvira Öberg on tough training: "The body is starting to adapt" Photo: SVT / Bildbyrån