Oberhof (dpa/th) - After more than two years of renovation work, the ice arena Oberhof was officially opened on Monday in time for the double World Cup in biathlon and tobogganing next year. The sports facility has been renovated for more than 40 million euros since April 6, 2020 and made more ecologically sustainable, as the Thuringian State Chancellery announced on Monday at the handover. It was thus adapted to international standards and made competitive in the long term.
"We are using the World Championships to secure the future of skating in Bavaria and to create first-class conditions for tomorrow's medalists and champions with the track," said Thuringia's Sports Minister Helmut Holter (left). According to the State Chancellery, more than 25,000 descents take place every year in the frozen facility - "including trips by national and international top athletes, parasportsmen and numerous youth and junior squads".
The Luge World Championships will take place from January 23rd to 29th, 2023, followed by the title fights of the biathletes from February 8th to 19th in the new arena on Grenzadler, which is currently under construction. In the future, 16,500 spectators will be able to follow the competitions in the arena and a further 11,000 visitors along the route.
The training times and track occupancy in the coming weeks and months show a significantly increasing demand for the use of the 1354.5 meter long artificial ice track, it said. "We will experience first-class competitions on this unique sports facility," said Prime Minister Bodo Ramelow (left) in the run-up to the opening. "Thuringia will present itself as a good host and is already showing how sporting tradition and sustainability can be combined."
