Regarding the suggestions for communicating with the IBU and USBA: I could be wrong (I so often am), but the IBU likely has little vested interest in the WWMG other than safety. It would be bad PR for them if someone takes a bullet during something called a "biathlon." The USBA has historically expended very little energy on the masters community *in the US*, so they are unlikely to get involved in the organization of WWMG biathlon events. I suggest taking the information provided by Bill at face value and using it to decide whether you can roll with the less-than-perfect organization of biathlon at WWMG2024. And, it may be more effective to push the WWMG organizers to acknowledge whether they will be running the competition in compliance with IBU guidelines, if IBU TDs and IRs will be appointed, and whether they’re communicating with the organizers of the Biathlon Masters International Championships in Finland re: course distances, handling the logistics of large fields, etc.

From my brief research, I think it’s fair to say that the Vermiglio location has less public transit infrastructure and fewer lodging options than were available in Seefeld. Just FYI, as you’re contemplating whether the overall travel logistics will work for you.

In my opinion and limited experience, if your goal is to travel to a well-organized masters biathlon event, the safest bet is the Biathlon Masters International Championships organized in Kontiolahti (https://kontiolahtibiathlon.com/kontiolahden-urheilijat/tapahtumat/masters). If your goal is to travel to northern Italy and do some biathlon while you’re there, the WWMG 2024 event is for you!

Julia

> On Mar 7, 2023, at 6:48 AM, Martha Bellisle <xxxxxx@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> Thank you Julia for sending and THANKS so much Bill for doing all this leg work. I had similar concerns about the venue and shooting range after reviewing their website.
> I wonder if it would be worth also reaching out to Max Cobb (now the IBU General Secretary) and Clare Egan (IBU Athletes Rep).
> Here's one more contact ---- I corresponded with her a few months ago and here's what she said.
>
> I understand your concern, but I got the feedback from the Sports Director and the OC.
> It will all be set up for the competition 👍😃
>
> Best Regards,
> Kirsty
>
> Follow our channels >
> Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/IMGAmasters)
> Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/imgamastersgames/)
> Twitter (https://twitter.com/imgamasters)
>
>
> Kirsty van Peer
> International Communications
> P.	+41 (0)76 46 702 88
> E.	xxxxxx@imga.ch
> W.	www.imga.ch
>
>
>
> From: xxxxxx@simplelists.com <xxxxxx@simplelists.com> on behalf of Julia Collins (via masters list) <xxxxxx@simplelists.com>
> Sent: Monday, March 6, 2023 4:27 PM
> To: xxxxxx@biathlonusa.com <xxxxxx@biathlonusa.com>
> Subject: Fwd: [Masters Biathlon] Biathlon planning for WWMG2024
>
> Hi,
>
> You’re receiving this message because you were subscribed to the mailing list used to communicate information about the WWMG 2020 event in Seefeld, Austria  (or, if you weren’t subscribed to that list, you’re receiving this message because I thought you might be interested in the upcoming WWMG 2024 event). Below is an email from Bill Quinlan with some information he’s gathered about the Vermiglio venue for 2024. I still had some hiccups in the mailing list configuration when he sent his original email; hopefully the message will make it to all of the right mailboxes this time. There should be a link to unsubscribe at the bottom of the list should WWMG 2024 not be of interest to you. :-)
>
> Ski fast, shoot straight, etc. etc. etc.
>
> Julia
> --
> Julia Collins
> xxxxxx@me.com
> 303-440-5298
>
>> Begin forwarded message:
>>
>> From: Bill Quinlan <xxxxxx@gmail.com>
>> Subject: [Masters Biathlon] Re: I: Biathlon planning for WWMG2024
>> Date: March 5, 2023 at 6:06:20 AM MST
>> To: xxxxxx@biathlonusa.com
>> Reply-To: "Bill Quinlan" <xxxxxx@gmail.com>
>>
>> Dear Masters Biathletes,
>> I am writing to share my intel on the World Winter Masters Games 2024 Lombardia (WWMG2024), Italy on 12-21 January of 2024 (313 days from today), put on by the International Masters Games Assn. (IMGA) .
>> Here are the facts:
>> The Vermiglio, Italy venue for cross country skiing, biathlon, and nordic combined presently has three 50 meter firing points.  According to the local tourist bureau, there will be 20 positions for the WWMG2024.
>> The local tourist bureau did not respond to my email until an Italian friend called directly to ask my questions.
>> The tourist bureau did not address the concern about volunteer staff for the biathlon events. The ski trail link does not clearly show the trails, however other resources show some ski trails.
>> My opinion:
>> Organization and volunteer staff (numbers and training) -
>> 1) The WWMG 2020 Seefeld experience was lacking in organization and volunteer training and numbers, as evidenced by the Monday training day range traffic jams which occured due to lack of planning for the ~200 biathlon entries. Tuesday's Individual race had the targets set to automatic reset, resulting in many scores being recorded as dirty bouts.  Official correction of the scores did not occur until months after the competition.  The valley is small with a low resident population to draw on for volunteers, with 3 competing types of events. Volunteers may be hard to recruit, with little biathlon experience or training.  I believe Seefeld had an IBU TD at WWMG 2020, and there were still serious organizational problems.
>> 2) Due to high demand for the original 100 biathlon competition spots at WWMG2020, an additional allotment of places was issued later, with 208 entrants in all categories of the Individual race with 21 DNS.  Given the same interest level, let's say 150+ competitors at a 20 point range does not bode well for training and racing organization. The organizer's experience with biathlon races is another unknown.
>> 3) WWMG Quebec was originally scheduled for Italy also, but had to be moved by the IMGA.  I do not know why.
>> 4) The present schedule shows a Sunday 10km Individual, a Friday 6km Sprint, and a Sunday Relay.  Between the Sprint and Relay on Sat is the 30km XC Skate race. Having the XC marathon on the final day after all biathlon events as in Bled 2010 worked out very well.
>> Race distances by age group are listed at https://imga.ch/masters-sports/sports-and-disciplines/biathlon/
>>
>> I have written to the IBU Secretary General, USBA CEO Jack Geirhart (invalid email on USBA site), USBA Director of Development, and USBA Director of Operations asking for involvement in the IMGA WWMG2024 biathlon planning on Feb 13, 2023, but have received no responses.
>>
>> Not everyone who attended the WWMG 2020 event is included on this email (the old list was retired after the event). Please forward this email to other masters competitors who might be interested in planning for WWMG 2024.
>>
>> Sincerely,
>> Bill
>>
>>
>> On Thu, Feb 9, 2023 at 2:37 AM Grandi Eventi Val di Sole <xxxxxx@visitvaldisole.it> wrote:
>> Good morning <friend's name withheld> and William,
>> thank you for your request!
>>
>> At this link you can see the sky Nordic, Biathlon and Cross-country sky area: https://www.visitvaldisole.it/en/vermiglio-cross-country-skiing
>>
>> For the Winter Master Game of January 2024, a temporary shooting range with 20 positions will be built for the Biathlon.
>> Soon on the WMG official website: https://wwmglombardia2024.it/  you can find the technical guide of all disciplines.
>>
>> We remain available,
>> See you soon in Val di Sole!
>> Staff Grandi Eventi Val di Sole
>> Grandi Eventi Val di Sole
>> Via Marconi 5 - 38027 Malé (TN) | TRENTINO - ITALY |
>> Cell. +39 333 9497 188 | Tel. +39 0463 808960 | xxxxxx@visitvaldisole.it
>> www.valdisolebikeland.com
>>
>>
>>
>> Da: <personal email withheld>
>> Inviato: mercoledì 8 febbraio 2023 10:30
>> A: xxxxxx@visitvaldisole.it
>> Oggetto: Fwd: Biathlon planning for WWMG2024
>>
>> Buongiorno,
>>
>> A seguito della mia conversazione telefonica di questa mattina con la signora Donatella, inoltro l'e-mail del mio amico in Colorado che sta cercando informazioni per decidere se portare il suo sci club a partecipare ai Master Games il prossimo gennaio.
>>
>> Bill teme che una gara di biathlon con 100 concorrenti su un percorso con un poligono di 3 posti sia impraticabile. Desidera sapere se sono previsti piani per un poligono più grande o quali alternative saranno proposte.
>>
>> Sono grato per qualsiasi informazione sulla gara di biathlon a Vermiglio.
>>
>> Cordiali salti
>>
>> <Italian friend's name deleted>
>>
>>
>> ---------- Forwarded message ---------
>> From: Bill Quinlan <email withheld>
>> Date: Wed, Jan 11, 2023 at 9:27 AM
>> Subject: Biathlon planning for WWMG2024
>> To: < xxxxxx@vermigliovacanze.it>, < xxxxxx@visitvaldisole.it>
>> Cc: < xxxxxx@wwmglombardia2024.it>
>>
>>
>> Dear Sir or Ms.,
>> The 2024 World Winter Masters Games (WWMG2024) to be held in Lombardia, on the 12th thru 21st of Jan 2024.
>> The Biathlon competition area is in Vermiglio, on SS42 SE of Bormio and WSW of Bolzano, at 46.29995142777861, 10.703224822986563 .
>>
>> The local Nordic Ski area is described at the web page:
>> https://www.visitvaldisole.it/en/vermiglio-cross-country-skiing
>> I can see that there are nordic ski trails in the vicinity of Vermiglio, and a Nordic Ski center at Laghetti San Leonardo in Vermiglio.
>>
>> I am interested in asking the Nordic center director and local competition organizers some questions about the planning for the WWMG2024:
>> 1)  How many .22 caliber (50 meter) shooting points are they planning to have for WWMG2024 ?  The nordic center in Vermiglio has a very small biathlon range of 3 x 50m targets and some 10 meter pellet rifle targets.
>> 2) Where will the race courses be for Biathlon and Nordic?  The maps are not very detailed on the Internet.  Is there a tourist organization that can send information?
>> 3) Does the community have enough volunteers to staff a series of biathlon races with 150 competitors? All the WWMG biathlon competitions had over 100 competitors. This was a serious problem at WWMG2020 in Seefeld, Austria.
>>
>> Thank you for your time and consideration in this matter.
>> Sincerely,
>> William Quinlan
>>
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