German biathlon worlds organizer shrugs off rising temperatures

Rising temperatures are not a major concern for the world biathlon championships ahead of the start of the second week of competition in Germany, reported dpa.

"There is no problem there," chief organizer Thomas Grellmann told dpa on Monday's rest day in Oberhof.

Although forecasts predict temperature of up to 9 degrees Celsius during the day, the situation at night is key.

"We're approaching 0 degrees at night and then we'll certainly have frost in the snow," Grellmann said. "And if we have ground frost, then it does very little to the snow cover."

The snow depth on the trails in the Thuringian forest varies, but is at least 50 to 60 centimetres.

"It's a snowpack that has been able to consolidate over the last few days. It's been relatively cold," Grellmann said.

Competition continues on Tuesday with the men's individual race over 20 kilometres.

Norwegian star Johannes Thingnes Bö has the chance to secure a historic seven golds in Oberhof, with three already in the bag, but he denies that is his main aim in life.

"My dream is to have a beautiful wife and a nice son, I have that. I'm fine," said the 29-year-old.

The five-time Olympic champion has won the mixed relay, the sprint and the pursuit. The mass start, single mixed and relay events follow Tuesday's 20 km over the next week.

"We want gold in the men's relay, in the single-mixed it will be very difficult, just like in the individual and mass start," said Bö. "I will approach the second week like everyone else."

But team-mate Sturla Holm Lägreid said: "Johannes is an alien, he is in a different league."