Stefan Schwarzbach, head of communications at the German Ski Association (DSV), has rejected the criticism of events such as “Biathlon on Schalke” by the German Federation for the Environment and Nature Conservation. “The question is whether we as a society now have to let every form of entertainment – be it culture or sport – be disparaged or banned with a morally sour face,” Schwarzbach told the German Press Agency on Thursday. “Even more so when, as with this event, everything is done to ensure it is held responsibly and to the highest standards.”
Around 100 truckloads of artificial snow were transported from Neuss to Gelsenkirchen for the event at the football stadium of the second division club FC Schalke 04. The club says it has already done a lot to combat climate change. In addition, the snow from the Neuss Alpine Park was produced completely ecologically and entirely from water. And the photovoltaic systems generated more electricity than the Alpine Park consumed, the association said upon request.
“Provide such a fun event?”
Dirk Jansen, managing director of BUND in North Rhine-Westphalia, said that the ecological footprint of the event on Schalke was significantly lower compared to artificial snow production in the Alpine region: “But the question is whether you can afford such a fun event in view of the climate crisis If you want, you have to ask.”
Schwarzbach doesn’t want to leave it like this. “With the World Team Challenge we are there once a year with the fans who would otherwise have to travel a long way to see biathlon live,” he said. “That alone has a positive impact on the balance sheet. If the BUND once again openly denounces winter sports as complicit in the climate crisis, then that is simply nonsense.”
In terms of sport, the German biathletes narrowly missed the podium at the World Team Challenge. In the confident defense of the title by the French duo Julia Simon/Fabien Claude, Roman Rees was defeated in the finish sprint and, together with Janina Hettich-Walz, ended up in fourth place behind the Norwegians Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold and Sturla Holm Laegreid as well as Jakov Fak and Polona Klemencic from Slovenia .
“When you’re so close to the podium, you get a little annoyed. But we really improved at the back,” said Hettich-Walz. “Of course we would have liked to be there at the award ceremony, but unfortunately we are not at Make-a-Wish.”
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Benedikt Doll and Hanna Kebinger formed the second German team and took sixth place after a mass start race and the pursuit. Kebinger and Rees returned to the traditional ski hunter event, which is not part of the World Cup, after breaks due to illness.
“I know from the competition that I’m somewhat back in shape, that I’m doing well again when it comes to shooting,” said Rees. “With this feeling I want, or we want, to go on to Oberhof in order to get back into the competitions straight away.” The next World Cup will take place there from January 4th to 7th.
However, the majority of Schalke 04 fans still have to wait for their first home win since 2016. Back then, Vanessa Hinz and Simon Schempp won. Former world champions Simon and Claude dominated the first part of the event. They finished the mass start with a lead of 50.5 seconds over Kebinger and Doll.
This distance for the chase race was then reduced to 20 seconds. Despite the home advantage, the four athletes from the German Ski Association were no longer able to catch the repeat offenders. The two Frenchmen won with a lead of 57.5 seconds and were accompanied to the finish by a standing ovation.
