The 2016 IBU World Championships get underway in Oslo on Wednesday and run until March 13, while the FIS World Cup gears up for the brand new Tour de Canada, which is the 2016 season finale.
The 2016 IBU World Championships in Holmenkollen is the 48th biathlon World Championships, and the organizers are expecting about 350 athletes from almost 40 nations. More than 1,300 volunteers are helping out to make the events and competitions run smoothly. The venue in Holmenkollen can hold 25,000 spectators. Over the course of the 10 competition days, there will be announced 11 World Champions.
For Ole Einar Bjørndalen (NOR), the 2016 World Championships on home turf is his overall career goal. The king of biathlon, who is in his 24th World Cup season, is the most winning winter sport athlete in the World.
This is the competition schedule for the World Championships in Holmenkollen
March 2: Opening ceremony downtown Oslo
March 3: Mixed relays
March 5: 10km sprint (men), 7.5km sprint (women)
March 6: 12.5km pursuit (men), 10km pursuit (women)
March 9: 15km individual competition (women)
March 10: 20km individual competition (men)
March 11: 4x6km relay (women)
March 12: 4×7.5km relay (men)
March 13: 12.5km mass start (women), 15km mass start (men)
March 13: Closing ceremony at Holmenkollen
The FIS cross-country World Cup season finale is also somewhat of a championship: The brand new Tour de Canada features 8 competitions in 12 days, starting with the skate sprints in Gatineau on Tuesday, March 1.
For many of the World Cup skiers, including Madshus racer Pål Golberg (NOR), this tour is one of the season highlights.
This is Tour de Canada 2016
March 1: Sprint Freestyle, Gatineau
March 2: 13km Classic (women), 20km Classic (men), Montreal
March 4: Sprint Freestyle, Quebec City
March 5: Pursuit 10km (women), 15km (men) Freestyle, Quebec City
March 8: Sprint Classic, Canmore
March 9: Skiathlon 15km (women), 30km (men), Canmore
March 11: 10km (women), 15km (men) Freestyle, Canmore
March 12: Pursuit 10km (women) 15km (men), Canmore