The Swedish Multisport Federation, Biathlon Orienteering section, has proposed for equal relays in M21 and W21 at the WBOC.
Is it possible, and how can it be done, in terms of making interesting relays and that as many nations as possible can participate with teams in M21 and W21?
The proposal (the Swedish file is attached, but translated here below):
Equal relays in M21/W21 at WBOC
Background equality
The Swedish Multisport Federation (Svenska Mångkampsförbundet, SMKF) works for a gender-equal sport and wants our rules to reflect this. We see that this is not reflected during the Relays at the World Biathlon Orienteering Championships for W21 and M21.
Current writing
M21 currently has 3 legs and W21 has 2 legs at the Relays at the World Biathlon Orienteering Championships.
This means that 9 medals will be awarded in the men’s class and 6 medals in the women’s class.
Proposal for new writing
Let M21 and W21 have the same number of legs. Suggestion 3 legs.
The most important thing is that there are equal numbers.
// The Board of the SMKF Biathlon Orienteering Section through Reinert Hallor
To the IBOF nations:
a) Is it possible, and how can it be done, in terms of making interesting relays and also that as many nations as possible can participate with teams in M21 and W21? All other classes (M20, W20, and the master classes) at the WBOC are equal, with two legs for both men and women.
b) Each IBOF nation is now asked to discuss this internally and come up with ideas and suggestions.
The question of equal relays in M21 and W21 was last time up for discussion in April 2024. An email was sent out on April 5, 2024, and a meeting with competitors took place at World Cup #1-2 in Denmark, Jaegerspris, April 24, 2024. The decision at that meeting was no changes in the set-up for the M21/W21-relays at the WBOC.
Please forward this information to your biathlon orienteering colleagues, discuss this and try to find solutions on how we can make our sport as equal as possible.
Please come back with your comments, inputs and ideas latest April 19, 2026.
Do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.
Best regards, Hans Mandahl, Chairman IBOF
info@ibof.org, phone +46 70 527 18 32
