2.3.3 Cross Country Sking |
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Biathlon Biathlon was introduced in Innsbruck in 1988 (for athletes with a physical disability). In 1992, athletes with a visual impairment were also able to compete in Biathlon. The competition is open to athletes with a physical disability and blindness/visual impairment. It consists of a 7.5km route divided into three 2.5km stages. Between the two stages athletes must hit two targets located at a distance of 10 metres. Each miss is penalized by an increase in the overall route time. The most important success factor lies in the capability of alternating the skills of physical endurance and shooting accuracy during the competition. Athletes with blindness/visual impairment are assisted by acoustic signals, which depending on signal intensity, indicate when the athlete is on target. The sport is governed by the IPC with co-ordination by the IPC Nordic Skiing Technical Committee following the modified rules of the International Biathlon Union (IBU). Cross Country Skiing Cross-Country Skiing appeared at the 1976 Winter Games in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden. The competition is open to athletes with a physical disability and blindness/visual impairment. Depending on functional disability, a competitor uses a sit-ski, a chair equipped with a pair of skis. Athletes with blindness/visual impairment compete in the event with a sighted guide. Male and female athletes compete in short distance, middle distance and long distance (ranging from 2.5km to 20km) or participate in a team relay using classical or free techniques. Cross Country Skiing is governed by the IPC with co-ordination by the IPC Nordic Skiing Technical Committee following modified rules of the International Ski Federation (FIS) and in 2006, is practiced by athletes in 24 countries. Competition Description In Cross Country Skiing, athletes compete on distances ranging from 2.5 to 20 kilometres. Depending on functional disability, a competitor uses a sit-ski (chair-ski), a chair equipped with a pair of skis. A visually impaired athlete competes in the event with a guide. The Biathlon event takes place on a 2.5-kilometre loop, which is repeated three times for a total of 7.5 kilometres (short distance) or 5 times for a total of 12km (long distance). Athletes stop for two or four shooting sessions along the course. They are given five shots and are required to hit a target positioned at a distance of ten metres. The penalty for a missed shot can be a time penalty that is added to the total time or a penalty loop to ski once per missed shot. The most important success factor lies in the capability of alternating these two skills during the competition. |
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Cross-Country Skiing appeared at the 1976 inaugural Paralympic Winter Games in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden. Men and women used the classical technique in all Cross-Country distances until skating was introduced by athletes at the Innsbruck 1984 Paralympic Winter Games. Since then, Cross-Country Skiing events have been split into two separate races: classical and free technique. The new technique, however, was not officially used in a medal race until 1992 in Albertville, France. The Lillehammer 1994 Paralympic Winter Games marked several other milestones in the history of Paralympic Nordic Skiing. Biathlon was introduced as a medal event for men and women, and for the first time Nordic skiers competed at the same venue used for the Olympic Winter Games. |