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MIDWAY — Another U.S. Olympic sport association is moving to Utah as the state continues its push to host a future Winter Olympics.
The United States Biathlon Association announced Thursday it is moving its headquarters from New Gloucester, Maine, to Midway, following an "extensive" search process and approval from the association's board of directors. Its decision makes it the fourth national governing body to call Utah home.
However, officials said the U.S. Biathlon National Team will continue to train in Lake Placid, New York, and the U.S. Biathlon Junior National and U.S. Biathlon Paralympic teams will remain in Bozeman, Montana, despite the association's decision.
"We are excited to expand our footprint westward and join the Utah Olympic community," said U.S. Biathlon President and CEO Jack Gierhart, in a statement. "Our presence in Midway directly supports our 2030 strategic plan to grow the sport of biathlon in the United States, recruit and develop top talent and support our athletes on their journey to the Olympic podium."
The biathlon, a combination of cross-country skiing and rifle shooting, has "roots in survival skills practiced in the snow-covered forests of Scandinavia," according to Olympics.com, which compiled a history of the sport. Competitions date back to the early 1700s, though it notes the Norwegian military held the first modern event in 1912.
It became an official Winter Olympics sport in 1960 before the International Olympic Committee added a women's biathlon event in 1992. Today, there are close to a dozen Olympic biathlon events held every four years.
With its new home in Midway, U.S. Biathlon officials said they hope to grow the sport by "tapping into already prominent Nordic skiing communities" and introducing it to new athletes.
Part of that is utilizing Soldier Hollow Nordic Center in Midway, which served as the venue for biathlon and Nordic skiing during the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics in 2002 and is poised to host the International Biathlon Union World Cup next March. It's also home to a pair of programs that bring more than 500 children in to teach cross-country skiing during the winter.
"We are looking forward to engaging with the greater Heber Valley and Utah community, and expanding our support of the vibrant and growing biathlon communities around the country," Gierhart said.
Soldier Hollow and Utah Sports Commission executives each applauded Thursday's announcement, as the U.S. Biathlon Association will join similar national governing organizations for skiing and snowboarding, speedskating and climbing in setting up its headquarters in the Beehive State.
Jeff Robbins, president and CEO of the Utah Sports Commission, said he believes it will "strengthen Utah's commitment to its Olympic and Paralympic legacy," while Soldier Hollow general manager Luke Bodensteiner added that it matches the center's "goals and objectives," which includes expanding interest in the biathlon.
"We look forward to providing Soldier Hollow's world-renowned trails and grooming, world-class shooting range and roller ski trail, and our new competition and training center to these Team USA athletes," Bodensteiner said, in a statement. "Their presence will inspire Soldier Hollow to build upon and reach a new level of providing exemplary Nordic skiing experiences, resources and facilities to our local community."
Utah is vying to have Salt Lake City host either the 2030 or 2034 Winter Olympics. The decision on which city will host the 2030 event is expected to be announced next year.
