Legendary biathlon fan passes away.

Sad news from the world of biathlon: renowned German fan Norbert Stark passed away at the age of 84. He was the founder of a table tennis club in Cologne and always stood out with his hat adorned with badges at every biathlon competition.

On June 20, 2025, we lost our founder Norbert. He dedicated many years of his life to the club he helped create, showing everyone what true club life is. The youth section was especially important to him. But besides table tennis, he truly appreciated biathlon, where he actively participated in club events for young athletes. Our condolences to his family and friends.

Stark had been attending biathlon competitions since the 1990s, taking photos with fans for one euro per picture, which he collected for the development of the sports club. His recent departure will leave a significant loss in the hearts of supporters of this sport.

Decision on the participation of Russian biathletes in international competitions

The International Biathlon Union announced the absence of Russian athletes at the World Cup and the Olympic Games due to violations of IBU principles. The decision is considered important for maintaining sports integrity and supporting Ukraine in the current events.

This is an important step in defending principles and highlighting Ukraine in the context of the geopolitical events occurring in the modern world. Russian biathletes will have to accept new conditions for participating in international competitions.

The overall context shows that the biathlon world is losing an outstanding fan and is addressing complex issues regarding the participation of Russian athletes in future tournaments, focusing on supporting Ukraine in the context of the conflict.