| Biathlon World Championships | |
|---|---|
 Magdalena Neuner and Kaisa Mäkäräinen during the 2012 World Championships in Kontiolahti, North Karelia, Finland | |
| Status | active |
| Genre | sporting event |
| Date(s) | February–March |
| Frequency | annual |
| Location(s) | various |
| Inaugurated | 1958 |
| Organised by | IBU |
 Biathlon World Championships 2024 | |
The first Biathlon World Championships (BWCH) was held in 1958, with individual and team contests for men. The original team event, Team (time), was held for the last time in 1965, to be replaced in 1966 by the team event, Relay (4 × 7.5 km), which we know today. The number of events has grown significantly over the years. Beginning in 1984, women biathletes had their own World Championships, and finally, from 1989, both genders have been participating in joint Biathlon World Championships. In 1978 the development was enhanced by the change from the large army rifle calibre to a small bore rifle, while the range to the target was reduced from 150 to 50 meters.[1]
- ^ "Biathlon: a sport on the cutting edge". International Olympic Committee. 23 February 2015. Retrieved 16 December 2018.