Having been the national team manager for Chinese biathletes since 2019, Ole Einar Bjørndalen’s contract expired in March this year.

Bjørndalen even confirmed that he had finished as national team manager to local newspaper Bygdeposten because he had heard nothing more from China.

Now the tone is different. Bjørndalen confirms that a new dialogue has been created. But now there is talk of Bjørndalen taking on the role of assistant and coach for biathlete leaders in China, he said. Village post office.

criticized

Bjørndalen was met with astonishment and criticism, including from amnesty, when he took over as manager of the national team in China. They believe he is being used to “cover the reputation of dictatorships in the world”.

Bjørndalen himself saw it as an opportunity to promote biathlon in Asia.

– My goal is to be able to develop biathlon into a popular sport there. It is important for the sport to develop and reach new countries, Bjørndalen told the newspaper.

He refuted the criticism:

– I stand for what I have done and do not regret it. It’s a sport I care about. Of course, all is not well in China. But maybe things aren’t always good in Norway? he told Bygdeposten.

Bjørndalen told the newspaper that the coronavirus pandemic, which originated in China, was hampering the entire project. He believed that he still had more to teach and that the Chinese had more to teach him.

Must be changed

Bjørndalen went on to say that in the evaluation he had listed several things that he believes must change if China is to develop as a biathlon nation.

Norwegian biathlon stars, such as Tarjei and Johannes Thingnes Bø, recently stated last winter that they were impressed by the work Bjørndalen had been doing with Chinese biathletes.

– He is the most dedicated and analytical athlete I have ever met. I was surprised by how much he was in China and following the athletes, Tarjei B told Dagbladet.