October 30, 2018 (Midway, Utah) – The 2019 BMW Biathlon World Cup comes to Soldier Hollow Nordic Center in Midway, Utah from February 14 to 17, 2019. This is the first major international biathlon competition to be held at Soldier Hollow since the 2002 Olympic Winter Games.

The event is spread over four days of competition with Sprint races on Thursday and Friday, double-header Pursuits on Saturday, and both a Single Mixed Relay and Mixed Relay on Sunday. The competition will feature new courses and an updated biathlon stadium layout. One of nine stops on the IBU World Cup tour, the 2019 Biathlon World Cup at Soldier Hollow will include approximately 28 nations and over 180 athletes.

Biathlon made its Olympic debut in 1960. With a total cumulative TV viewership approaching one billion, biathlon is one of the most popular winter sports in Europe. The last Biathlon World Cup hosted in the western United States was in 2001 at Soldier Hollow Nordic Center, prior to the 2002 Olympic Winter Games. After 17 years, Soldier Hollow Nordic Center and the Heber Valley readies for the return of this popular winter sport competition to the United States and Utah.

The Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation has invested in improvements to the Soldier Hollow Nordic Center in order to host international competitions of this caliber. With changes in the sport since the venue’s last world cup, the biathlon target system had be to be fully refurbished and an elevated coaching box has been added to bring the biathlon range up to international standards. Updates to the snow making system and power capacity – as well has a new paved parking lot for spectators – are other improvement projects currently underway.

More information on the 2019 BMW Biathlon World Cup can be found here.

Colin Hilton, President & CEO, Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation
“The Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation has worked to return Soldier Hollow Nordic Center to international standards and is honored to bring the excitement of biathlon back to Utah. We look forward to showcasing Soldier Hollow and the Heber Valley on an international stage for this incredible event.”

Zach Hall, Biathlon Program Manager, Soldier Hollow Nordic Center
“Biathlon is the most exciting sport on skis and we encourage all of Utah to come experience this event. Hosting a biathlon world cup is a great opportunity to involve our youth programs and continue to build the sport locally in Utah.”

Max Cobb, President & CEO, U.S. Biathlon Association
“It’s a great honor to have the IBU choose Soldier Hollow to be a part of the North American leg of the World Cup tour together with Canmore, Alberta. The athletes will be treated to racing at two Olympic venues with easy logistics in between.”

Jeff Robbins, President & CEO, Utah Sports Commission
“Utah has a special history of hosting winter sports events and we are excited to help host another incredible competition where the top athletes in the world will compete in this major international World Cup event.”

Susan Dunklee, U.S. Biathlete
“I remember watching the Olympics as a kid and watching athletes racing up Hermode’s Hill. I look forward to the challenge of testing myself on the same historic course at the 2019 BMW Biathlon World Cup.”

Sean Doherty, U.S. Biathlete
“I’m looking forward to racing here in the U.S. and am fortunate to have Soldier Hollow Nordic Center be the home world cup for us.”