Biathlon

[waimarie]

I've tried this question on the Sports thread without any response so, as it's a bit of a technical nature, thought the 'How it Works' specialists might offer an answer.

In a Biathlon, how do they know which athlete is shooting at which target? For example, if there are four shoots (two prone and two standing), the athlete shoots from the target number corresponding to his bib number on the first shoot only.

It appears that subsequent shoots are at random. For example, bib number 2 could find himself at target 8 on shoot number two and target 12 on the third.

I understand the athlete is electronically tagged but how is this connected and recorded instantaneously when he/she arrives at the random target? This has to be instantaneous as the targets are displayed on the TV during the shoot.

I am sure there must be a simple answer but it continues to puzzle me.

[kempie]

The subsequent shoots are not random.

For the mass start and relay competitions, an athlete must shooting on the shooting point corresponding to his bib number for the first stage. For the remaining stages, the athletes are assigned points as in the pursuit race i.e. athletes are assigned a shooting point based upon their position in the race.

http://www.frozenbullet.com/aboutb/1-rules.htm

[waimarie]

many thanks kempie - I had a look at the 'frozen bullet' site which mentions the allocation of targets. I can understand the athlete following others in order as the enter the shooting area but still cannot follow two things :

1

[waimarie]

Sorry about that. I obviously pressed the wrong button!!! As I was saying............

1. Is this done by word of mouth? i.e. does somebody shout out a number to the athlete as they enter the shooting area. This sounds a bit haphazard so assume there is another means of allocating target numbers.

2. Once a target is allocated and the athlete is at that place, is there a mechanical/electronic means of marrying the two up. By this I mean, there must be a linkage somewhere.

I know this may sound daft but I'm still puzzled how the two things are synchronised. i.e. athletes personal number and target number.