Biathlon combines cross-country skiing and rifle shooting. The skiingpart of biathlon requires excellent endurance skills, while the shooting component demands accuracy and controlled precision. At the Innsbruck 2012Winter Youth Olympic Games this discipline will consist of three events each for men and women: a 7.5km Sprint for men and a 6km Sprint for women; a 10km Pursuit race for men and a 7.5km Pursuit race for women; and a Mixed Relay with two men (each 7.5km) and two women (each 6km). In biathlon theobjective is to complete the course in the shortest amount of time possible. Timepenalties can be avoided by hitting targets in the shooting sections.Biathletes shoot a .22 calibre (5.6mm) small-bore rifle, alternatingbetween prone and standing positions. The size of the target varies depending on the shooting position. In the Sprint and Mixed Relay events athletesshoot twice, first prone then standing; in the Pursuit event athletes shoot four times,twice prone and twice standing.​

More about Biathlon on www.olympic.org