Strong winds have been reported at the WC stadium in the old East German winter metropolis on Saturday. The organizers state that wind gusts of up to 23 meters per second have been reported during the day. – According to the local authorities, the strong gusts with a reported strength of up to 23 meters per second will pose a danger to athletes and the public in the forested areas of the track, the IBU wrote in a press release on Friday evening. According to yr.no, nine meters per second of wind was reported at the biathlon stadium on Saturday. At 07.30 on Saturday morning, the International Biathlon Union, meteorologists and local authorities met at the WC stadium. RIGGING: The organizers started by getting the stadium ready for the race soon after the meeting between the IBU and the local authorities. Photo: Hanne Skjellum / news It was decided there that the organizers will go ahead with the competitions as planned, but that a final decision will only be made later on Saturday morning. – We will go ahead with the competitions as planned. Further meetings with the jury and the forest authorities will take place before a final decision on whether the race can start will be made at 10.45, writes IBU’s communications officer, Christian Winkler to news. Race start for the men’s relay is 11.45. During the night to Saturday, the wind was strong and crews are now in the process of clearing the slopes after the ravages of the wind. – The organizers will continue to work with weather experts and forest authorities throughout the morning with athlete and audience safety as an important factor in the decision, writes the IBU in a press release. The fear is that large trees will blow over and pose a danger to athletes and the public who are in the forest around the WC course. The final decision will be made in the usual jury meeting one hour before the start of the race. Oberhof is known for fog, little snow and cancellations. Severe weather change The men’s relay is scheduled to start at 11.45, while the women’s race is to start at 3.00 p.m. If the competitions have to be cancelled, the WC relays will be moved to the World Cup round in Östersund 9–12. March. On Friday, there was a violent change in the weather in the German WC city, which until now has been characterized by sunshine. On Friday morning, the fog and wind took over the city and blew advertising signs out onto the trail, while it was visible that several trees had to bow to the strong forces. Already at the press meeting with the Norwegian relay teams on Friday morning, the weather became a topic. – Now we have gone through a windless championship so far, so I would have been a little disappointed if we went through the whole WC without any wind. It is very good that we get what we expected, said Marte Olsbu Røiseland at the press conference.
ttn-69
– Danger for athletes and the public – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcast schedule
