Biathlon - Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia Biathlon is a term used to describe any sporting event made up of two disciplines. However, biathlon usually refers specifically to the winter sport that combines crosscountry http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biathlon
Extractions: (Officially) Biathlon is a term used to describe any sporting event made up of two disciplines. However, biathlon usually refers specifically to the winter sport that combines cross-country skiing and rifle shooting . Other popular variants include summer biathlon, which combines cross-country running with riflery, modern biathlon and biathle , which combine running with swimming. The sport has its origins in an exercise for Norwegian soldiers , as an alternative training for the military . The world's first known ski club, the Trysil Rifle and Ski Club, was formed in Norway in 1861 to promote national defense at the local level.
Biathlon Olympic History. Biathlon was originally a tactic of survival rather than a sport. Northern Europeans skied to hunt for food and, later, skied with weapons to defend their countries. http://sochi2014.com/en/games/sport/olympic-games/sports/biathlon/
Extractions: XXII Olympic Winter Games 7 - 23 february 1179 days left XI Paralympic Winter Games 7 - 16 march 1207 days left Search Search the entire site Search only in this section Olympic History Biathlon was originally a tactic of survival rather than a sport. Northern Europeans skied to hunt for food and, later, skied with weapons to defend their countries. There are currently five Biathlon competitions in the Olympic Winter Games for men and women: Individual, Sprint, Pursuit, Relay and Mass Start. Biathlon has been an Olympic sport since 1960. Biathlon in Russia In Russia, biathlon did not take its present form until the early 20th Century. In the 1920s and1930-s, ski competitions were quite common in the Red Army. Athletes ran the distance of 50 km in military uniform. Over time, military ski races increasingly acquired the features of a sporting event. Spartakiads of the People of the USSR which, similar to the Olympic Games, were held every four years, were a major part of the development of biathlon.
