— Published February 12, 2026

Max Cobb: "A huge opportunity for biathlon to spread its wings"

InterviewMilan-Cortina 2026 Focus

After the mixed relay, the men's individual, and the women's individual, the biathlon world will have its eyes glued to the sprint-pursuit combination starting Friday. IBU Secretary General Max Cobb gives his perspective on these unique Games, which have all the ingredients to propel his sport to the next level.

Antholz is often described as the most beautiful venue for the Biathlon World Cup. Is it the ideal location for the Games?

Absolutely. First of all, it's a truly iconic venue with those imposing mountains in the background. For me, it's the cathedral of biathlon. We also have a long history of over 50 years of international biathlon events here. It's a bit like coming home. We're very proud to have the largest capacity of all the Milan-Cortina Games venues. With 19.000 places available, we expect to be sold out most days.

Does returning to a country with such a strong biathlon tradition make these Games even more special?

Absolutely. It's been 20 years since we last held the Olympic Games in the heart of Central Europe, the beating heart of winter sports. The last time was in Turin, but at a venue that had been built specifically for the Games and then dismantled. To be able to be at a historic biathlon venue, in the heart of the historic territory of winter sports, is simply fantastic. It's a huge opportunity for biathlon to really spread its wings and appeal to a wider segment of the population, especially in Italy. The World Championships we held here in 2020 had even higher viewership in Italy than any edition of the Olympic Games. We can really introduce this sport to a new generation and to countries that haven't fully embraced it yet.

Given this environment and the development of your sport, will these Games be the greatest in the history of biathlon?

I like to say that when the Olympic Games are at their peak, each edition builds upon the one before it. It would be a little unfair to make a direct comparison with great editions like Lillehammer or Salt Lake City, where we had huge crowds coming out to support us. But I think we will witness extraordinary Olympic Games, which will fully satisfy both athletes and fans. In terms of total ticket sales, we will break records, without a doubt. In Salt Lake City, on our best day, 26.000 spectators were there. The venue is smaller in Milan-Cortina, but in terms of total ticket sales, we will far surpass the figures recorded in Salt Lake City. (The IBU expects nearly 200.000 spectators in total, editor's note).

Biathlon is the number 1 winter sport, but is that also the case at the Olympics?

We're the number one winter sport in Europe if you consider our World Cup and World Championships. But during the Olympics, many sports that don't usually get as much attention are really brought into the spotlight. Some more exotic disciplines attract a large audience, for example, the halfpipe and certain freestyle events. The viewership is much more balanced during the Olympics. I think we'll have excellent results, but we won't see as much of a difference as during the regular season, where we're quite clearly ahead of other winter sports. During the Games, there's so much media coverage that it evens things out.

In 2022, Johannes Boe, Quentin Fillon Maillet, and Marte Olsbu largely dominated the Games. This year, the competition seems much more open. Is that a good thing?

Yes, it's fantastic. This season is bringing forth new heroes. We're seeing a lot of suspense and a wide variety of athletes on the podium. It's really exciting. The field is much more open, and it's simply brilliant. What's great about biathlon is its unpredictability. And this season is even more so. We can already see that in the viewership figures in Finland, France, and Italy, where there has been a significant increase thanks to strong national performances. The Grand-Bornand World Cup event broke all records in France with over 1,6 million viewers for the mass start. I can only imagine that the figures will be even higher than the Olympic Games, which benefit from much greater visibility.

Does returning to a traditional venue also change things for the experience of fans and athletes?

Yes. Biathlon is a very popular sport in Central Europe and the Nordic countries, and the accessibility in Antholz for our fans is radically different compared to previous editions. Friends and families of the athletes can come relatively easily, to a place they already know. All these elements contribute to making the experience truly different, both for the fans and the athletes. It will be wonderful for the athletes to know that their friends and family can come to the Games, mingle with the crowds, and support them. Being in a place that is familiar to the athletes also has, I think, a very calming effect on them. Biathlon is a sport where you try to minimize variables in order to stay focused and be able to perform at your best. Traveling to a new country is interesting, but it is also difficult and demanding for the athletes. In Antholz, they can more easily concentrate and truly give their best.