The Valla buses are lining up in a parking lot behind the stands of the Olympic Arena in Antholz.
At the end of the 2000s, the Swedish biathletes’ dikes were stored in a container. Today the national team has a beautiful caravan with all possible facilities and an upgrade to the best possible working environment and sustainability thinking.
Have multiple national teams similar resources today. But hardly all of them.
The gaps in sport are large, says Swedish Olympic star Sebastian Samuelsson, who is also chairman of the active committee within the International Biathlon Union (IBU).
– I feel like they’re getting bigger and bigger.
Admittedly, it is the IBU As a federation, you are good at redistributing resources and education to smaller nations, says Samuelsson. This includes help with herding, mentoring for trainers and pure money.
Several nations also have their own collaborations, for example Sweden is helping Great Britain with its skis. But the gaps mean that some nations can outrun others, says the 28-year-old, citing Norway in cross-country skiing as a frightening example.
Biathlon does not want a similar development to cross-country skiing. The sport has long boasted that many nations are represented in the top ten.
– But yes, there is a big difference (in terms of resources), says Sebastian Samuelsson.
– And perhaps it is the problem of herding that has the greatest impact.
At the latest in the junior level A system of so-called common, centralized flocks has been tested in recent years at the European Championships and Junior World Championships.
– You can hand in your skis there and then everyone will ski fairly equally well. It is a relatively new step to reduce the number of fencers you have to take to a junior competition, says Sweden’s sports director Anna Maria Uusitalo, explaining:
– Then there are perhaps eight different countries that have shepherds on this common station. We think it worked well. There will be an aspect of justice.
However, Samuelsson would rather do it Watch a setup that further downplays the role of the various national teams:
– I think maybe the suppliers (of silage) could take over the silage teams.
One manufacturer chooses some drivers, another chooses others, he continues.
Would that even out the differences?
– Yes, exactly. Maybe not everyone needs to use it, then it will be a very large device. But if there is this possibility, if you are a smaller country, that you can get this support and the IBU can potentially contribute money to this investment… I think that such an option could be better than a common herd.
The proposal could slow down developments in cross-country skiing, the 28-year-old continued.
– Yes. I’m speculating here, but this is what I think.
– Then there are certainly many difficulties. But I think this is something you should investigate.
