Spectator count climbs at World Cup events

FORT KENT – The numbers of spectators attending the Biathlon World Cup at Fort Kent grow each day. Organizers said Friday noon that between 4,500 and 5,000 spectators attended Friday morning’s competitions.

Announcers at the competition had different numbers, with some of their estimates running as high as 6,000 to 6,500 people.

George Dumond, chief of logistics for the competitions, said he had people with “clickers” at the gates. The official number, Dumond reported, was “between 4,500 and 5,000” spectators.

A set of bleachers which holds 500 people was full. An area adjacent to the bleachers, where 2,000 to 2,500 people can be located, also was full.

People were lined up six deep in places along the biathlon trail from the bleacher area to behind the 10th Mountain Division Lodge, and there were lines of people on a ridge overlooking the trail coming into the shooting stadium. There also were reports of spectators along the trails in several places.

On Wednesday, the first day of the games, it was reported that 3,000 people attended. The numbers were much the same for Thursday, and some suggested the numbers Thursday may have been around 4,000 people.

“Love it, love it,” Carl Theriault, treasurer of the Maine Winter Sports Center Board of Trustees, said Friday when he was asked about the large numbers of people.

“Unbelievable,” state Sen. John L. Martin, D-Eagle Lake, said. “This is very good.”

“Awesome,” Andy Shepard, CEO and president of the MWSC, said Friday. “Whatever numbers come tomorrow [Saturday] is gravy.”

The director of ARD Television, German public television broadcasting the games from Fort Kent, was elated. In Germany and many sites in Europe and Asia, up to 20,000 spectators attend biathlon competitions.

“I was surprised by the numbers of spectators,” Rainer Rosenbaum said. “This is very good for U.S.A. They had 100 to 200 people a day in Lake Placid last week.”

While planning for the games, organizers had hoped to get between 2,000 and 3,000 people a day.

ST. AGATHA – Nine of the 10-person U.S. biathlon team and one coach attended a reception in their honor Friday afternoon at the Lakeview Restaurant.

Arriving by snowmobile from Fort Kent shortly before 4 p.m. – about an hour later than the 60 people awaiting them expected – they were greeted with cheers and clicking cameras. Most of the team was asked for autographs by many young fans.

While waiting, residents watched biathlon television coverage on wide-screen televisions in the lounge. Many who had attended at least part of the first three days of competition recounted the experience.

There seemed to be a fear the team might not come.

“Where are they?” people kept asking.

But soon the nearly 20 snowmobiles arrived, with people from Fort Kent.

“It was fun getting here, but it may have been smoother with a bit more snow,” Roger Hartley, U.S. team coach said. “The support for us, for everyone, has been fantastic.

“This is a super venue, and I was impressed with what has been done here in a very short time,” the coach said. “The crowds are unbelievable, and people here should be proud.”

The U.S. team is a young one, Hartley said. He said it is a time to build for the next Winter Olympics, and the effort of the young team was good.

“Several of them did better than they’ve ever done,” he said. “I expect that will continue.”

Because of the team’s late arrival, the visit to St. Agatha was short. Many had to be back in Fort Kent before 6 p.m. for the Biathlon World Cup Festival Parade of Lights.