Sigi's tips: The Olympic spirit from the test tube

Sigi Heinrich

The fascination of the Olympic Games still seems to be unbroken. In the ears of athletes, the words Olympic Games sound like seductive music. You only have the chance to take part every four years. This is one of the still big differences to all other events.

World championships, European championships and international championships for students break out like waves every year. The International Ice Skating Union (ISU), for example, still holds world championships even in years in which the Olympic Games have taken place, which of course have little appeal. Becoming world champion every year is boring. But you are an Olympic champion forever and in common parlance it doesn't mean: Former Olympic champion like with world champions.

No, becoming an Olympic champion is the big dream that some, like Laura Dahlmeier, the German biathlete, even scribbled in childlike writing in her poetry album as a little girl. And it is precisely this dream that the Olympic Games still live by. Unbridled. And in return, everyone fighting for the medals forgoes the representation of their personal sponsors. They accept that they will not receive any prize money. They subordinate themselves completely in the hope of being able to market the title of “Olympic champion” effectively later. Advantage for the IOC The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is of course aware of this poundage with which it can profitably. Despite some criticism, the much-quoted “youth of the world” are following the call of the five rings like lemmings. These games are no longer a playground for romantics and idealists. The President of the IOC knows this very well and has nevertheless managed to further expand the successful model of the Olympic Games.

Financially, the IOC is doing brilliantly. This is a clear merit of Bach, who sometimes seems to be able to withstand all storms like a tree with deep roots. Now he has to accept the news that no foreign spectators will be allowed in Tokyo in a few months. Only Japanese people are allowed to attend the games in Japan. One would have to assume that this is horror news for Bach. It is only a marginal phenomenon. He actually barely cares. It's just bad luck for the hosts in Japan. Only Japanese are allowed to attend the games in Tokyo. © APA/afp / PHILIP FONG

In view of the not exactly rosy development of the Japanese economy, the residents of Tokyo also have other things to worry about than, for example, watching the air show by the pole vaulter Mondo Duplantis from Sweden in the Olympic Stadium. In addition, there are not many sports in which Japan can produce possible Olympic champions. Artistic gymnastics is part of it. In volleyball you hope. Judo is of course in demand, and a little swimming is also included. Unfortunately, sumo is not an Olympic sport. In a core Olympic sport like athletics, however, there is no such thing. This will probably have little impact on the TV images we will get from Tokyo. You can choose camera positions so cleverly that you get the impression of a full hall, even though there are only a few Japanese fans present, who are not experts in many sports. Yes, these Olympics will be different. Japan is the big loser The meeting of the best athletes in the world will be a test exercise. Probably without atmosphere and artificially inflated. And yet: Whoever becomes the Olympic champion ultimately doesn't care. However, the big loser of this event has already been determined. The host is Japan. The costs have already risen to 13,5 billion euros. They wanted to earn 12 percent through ticket sales, which are now canceled. With all the financial disaster that has to be dealt with, pity will be limited. There have hardly been any Olympic Games that were a business. You had to know that when you applied. The exception is of course the IOC, which always passes on all risks to the organizers through clever contracts. The Milan/Cortina bid for the 2026 Winter Games should therefore exercise all possible caution in all expenditures.

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Sigi's tips: The Olympic spirit from the test tube

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