Sochi to modify dangerous biathlon track

The biathlon track for next year’s Winter Olympics in Sochi includes a “very dangerous” turn that could cause injury and must be modified, the head of the Russian Olympic Committee said Monday.

The track hosted its first major test event with a World Cup round from Thursday to Sunday that saw many falls on the steep slopes.

“The biathlon track will have to be corrected. You’ve probably seen that there is a place where there is a very dangerous turn and some athletes can’t cope with it, they fly off,” Olympic committee head Alexander Zhukov said.

“It needs to be fixed in order not to take the risk of injuries, but it can be done quite easily. The track won’t be simplified but it will be made safe.”

Many athletes have said the track is extremely difficult, with some joking that its steep descents would be better suited to alpine skiers.

Four-time world championship medallist Anton Shipulin suggested he would struggle at the Olympics on the “very uncomfortable” track despite the Russian team having much more practice time than their rivals.

–IANS/RIA Novosti

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