Samuelsson critical of biathlete rule change: "I do not understand"

The IBU also confirms that the points system in the World Cup will be changed.

The winner gets 30 points more than at present and thus scores a full 90 points.

The second gets 75 and the third 60 points.

According to the IBU, the changes will ensure that athletes who miss a race due to illness can still have the opportunity to win the total.

But Sebastian Samuelsson, who is a member of the IBU's active committee, does not understand the changes.

- Personally, I do not think it's the world's thing, then I think it's strange that you push through that decision even though the majority of the active do not want it that way.

Previously, skiers have been able to delete their two worst races in the World Cup summary, but that possibility will now be removed.

- The risk with that is that skiers will compete when you are not completely healthy, and we do not want that, we want healthy skiers on the starting line, says Samuelsson.

Voted against

Last winter, a survey was conducted among those active.

The survey showed that 65 percent of the riders like the current system, as they want to be able to count out two competitions.

The support for the current system is also very large among the coaches, says Samuelsson.

- With a background to that, I think it is very strange that you push through it.

Our skier representative, Clare Egan (American biathlete), has voted against the proposals against a unanimous board in general, and it is not often that a skier votes differently.

It is strange that our concerns have not been taken seriously.

- It will certainly be good in the end, but it is clear that I do not understand why they want to change something that has worked so well.

At the same time, the prize money from the World Cup and the IBU Cup will be changed so that more athletes will receive a larger share of it in a first phase until 2024, and then increased to 2026.