JOKA Biathlon WTC 2019 in Gelsenkirchen

The JOKA Biathlon WTC is the world's largest biathlon spectacle. Since the event took place for the first time in the VELTINS Arena in 2002, it is repeated every year between Christmas and New Year. The stadium is one of the most modern multifunctional arenas in Europe and can be transformed from a football stadium into an ice hockey stadium, a handball hall, a concert hall or a biathlon arena within a few days.

More than 46,000 winter sports enthusiasts attended the 17th Biathlon WTC 2018 and witnessed the Italian team consisting of Dorothea Wierer and Lukas Hofer securing first place. The German team around Franziska Preuß and Simon Schempp fought for a well-deserved second place with only 1.2 seconds time difference to 1st place.

The accompanying program of the event inspires the fans every year with the Snowball Battle World Championship in Winterdorf - where up to 32 teams compete against each other - and the German Team Challenge as well as the show "Herberts Anschießen". The artistic highlight of the last JOKA Biathlon WTC was the live performance of the Schlager-Girlgroup "Lichtblick".