Oberhof, Germany "wants to host its second biathlon world championships in '20 or '21," but it needs to invest €27.1M ($32M) "to upgrade its facilities," according to the DPA. Last year, the state government provided €50,000 for a feasibility study regarding a potential world championship bid. However, the government has now said that it will cut the funding for upgrading the facility from its '16-17 budget step by step. The Int'l Biathlon Union will award the '20 and '21 world championship in the summer of '16. If Oberhof does not start upgrading its facilities then it "does not even need to submit a bid." Oberhof would need to make changes to its network of cross-country ski tracks as well as to the underground pathways inside the stadium. In addition, it will need to increase the size of the main building along with the areas for equipment trucks and TV. Oberhof will be part of the IBU World Cup calendar through at least '18. The feasibility study was completed in March. The annual biathlon World Cup event in Oberhof brings more than €1M ($1.2M) into the coffers of the state government. In addition, the event has an economic impact of around €20M ($24M) for the region. Ahead of this year's World Cup event, State of Thuringia Ski Federation President Sabine Reuß said, "We look to talk with everyone involved" (DPA, 1/7).
