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About the Sport Additional Information Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics Search FranaisLearn more about the Olympic MovementOlympic PhotosOlympic VideosOlympism in ActionOlympic Sports Olympic AthletesOlympic NewsFuture Olympic GamesPast Olympic games Vancouver 2010 OlympicsLondon 2012 OlympicsSochi 2014 OlympicsRio 2016 Olympics Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games Alpine Skiing Biathlon Bobsleigh CrossCountry Skiing Curling Figure Skating Freestyle Skiing Ice Hockey Luge Nordic Combined Short Track Speed Skating Skeleton Ski Jumping Snowboard Speed Skating BiathlonSchedule and Results Medals Biathlon Medallists Historical Biathlon Medals Historical Biathlon Medallists Geo View Athletes Geo View News Olympic News Best of the Web Podcast Biathlon Photos Biathlon Videos Olympic Tickets Prices Sales and Information Olympic Tickets How to Buy Tickets Ticket Prices International Ticket Sales Tickets FAQs The Olympic Store Watch Olympics Live Spectator Guide Venues Interactive Map Celebrations and Ceremonies Transportation Accommodation At the Games Travelling to Canada Accessibility Consumer Awareness Buy Real Essential Contacts Souvenirs Spectator Information FAQs Explore Vancouver and British Columbia More 2010 Information Cultural Festivals and Events Sustainability Education Programs Aboriginal Participation Mascots Games and More Olympic Torch Relay Work and Volunteer Winter Games History About VANOC Media Centre Local Business Organization and Resident Information Paralympic Games Alpine Skiing Biathlon CrossCountry Skiing Ice Sledge Hockey Wheelchair Curling Schedule & Results Medals Athletes News Photos Videos Tickets Store Spectator Guide More 2010 Information About the SportBiathlon which combines crosscountry skiing and rifle shooting did not start as a sport but as a way for northern European hunters as early as 2000 BC to put food on the table Beginning in the mid16th century however Scandinavian countries began using troops on skis to defend against their enemiesThe word biathlon comes from the Greek word for two tests Today biathlon consists of 10 separate events that involve both crosscountry skiing and target shooting The objective in biathlon is to complete the course in the least amount of time hitting as many targets as possible to avoid time penaltiesThe first world championships in biathlon were held in 1958 at Saalfelden Austria Biathlon became an Olympic sport (for men only) at the Squaw Valley 1960 Olympic Winter Games Womens biathlon joined the Olympic Games 30 years later in 1992 at the Albertville Games in FranceHow It WorksThe skiing portion of the biathlon requires fast and physically demanding crosscountry free technique racing while the rifle shooting requires accuracy and controlWhen the athletes ski into the shooting range they must put down their ski poles and take five shots at a metal t...