History, tradition and sport: the South Tyrolean resort has everything it takes to host the spectacular biathlon competitions at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026
The Anterselva/Antholz valley encompasses a universe of history, tradition and sport. Here, the mother tongue is German and the local community is proud of its roots and lives in contact with nature, surrounded by the mountains of South Tyrol - Südtirol.
Lake Anterselva is one of the largest mountain lakes in the region and is surrounded by the imposing peaks of the Vedrette di Ries-Aurina Nature Park, which boasts the largest number of glaciers among the seven nature parks in South Tyrol - Südtirol.
So, how did this place become the temple of Italian biathlon, and a reference point for the discipline worldwide? Let's find out together!
More than 50 years of history
Biathlon is part of the DNA of Anterselva/Antholz, recognised worldwide as an excellence hub for this sport.
The story started a while time ago, with a local hotelier, Paul Zingerle. Zingerle familiarized with biathlon in the early 1970s. By chance, he heard that the Italian national biathlon team would be training near Sterzing. And there, he met their coach and managed to convince him to visit the Antholz Valley. The coach couldn't help but fall in love with the area and in 1971, under Zingerle's supervision, the first biathlon competition took place in the South Tyrolean resort. In the following years, further running and Sprint competitions were organised.
The first Biathlon World Championships in Antholz took place in 1975, but it was only with the introduction of small-calibre rifles that Biathlon became increasingly popular and loved. After the World Championships in 1975 and 1976, a third edition was held in 1983, also celebrated for the number of tourists it brought in.
The 1990s and recent successes
In 1995, Anterselva/Antholz hosted its fourth biathlon World Championships, the only edition hosted in the 1990s. Two more editions were organised by the South Tyrolean Committee many years later, in 2007 and 2020, bringing the number of World Cups hosted by the legendary stadium to six.
Nowadays, Anterselva/Antholz has become a true benchmark, and enjoys worldwide fame among biathlon enthusiasts from all parts of the globe. With their commitment and dedication, young athletes have extended the popularity of this place beyond its borders.
Towards the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026
All the work and passion of the local community involved in the organisation of the traditional IBU Biathlon World Cup stage is passed on to the people who gather every winter to watch the exploits of their favourite athletes live. A rich and colourful tribe gets together in this magnificent and remote corner of the Alps, with tens of thousands of fans and spectators arriving from all over the world to cheer on the great champions of this sport, raising enthusiastic choruses to the sky to create a unique and unrepeatable atmosphere. In 2026, the Anterselva/Antholz stadium will host competitions very likely to add a few pages to this sport's history. It will be the last Olympics for the South Tyrolean from Rasun, Dorothea Wierer, the greatest Italian champion ever, who is ready to thrill her home crowd; and there will also be Lisa Vittozzi - winner of the Overall World Cup in 2024 - as well as athletes from all over the world, fledging a full Olympic spirit.
And so, its past and present make Anterselva/Antholz the perfect venue to host the future Olympic biathlon competitions at Milano Cortina 2026! An experience that will captivate enthusiasts and new fans alike, who will surely be enraptured by the emotions of such a unique and unrepeatable event.
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Dorothea Wierer, Italy, Biathlon, Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022
