A muzzle also for Wierer

A dream. After all, it's not forbidden yet. So: Dorothea Wierer is sitting comfortably in a bar in the Olympic Village in Beijing. The world's sporting elite is currently meeting there and the South Tyrolean has the chance to meet other stars from other sports. Get out of the biathlon cosmos. You might even run into Shaun White, the snowboard legend who managed to get a ticket to the Olympics again.

Or she meets someone on her team from a sport other than biathlon. It's good and nice and always a nice change, because, as Wierer has learned and so have we all: after all, the youth of the world meets at the Olympic Games. Well, the youth thing is a flexible term. Then in the summer the show jumpers would no longer be able to get into the saddle. But we don't want to dwell on it so pedantically. That's OK. But the thing about the relaxed get-togethers, the exchange of ideas, the getting to know each other, that's history. That was once. The dream has long since become a nightmare. When the Olympic world was still in order in this regard, the ice hockey players from Germany paid a visit to the so-called and legendary “Kufenstüberl” for tobogganers and bobsledders. Some of the participants at the time say with shining eyes that one or two small beers were also passed over the bar. And of course we exchanged ideas. Opinions circulated, stories were told. A threat It is important to remember this, because nothing, nothing at all, will be even remotely possible in Beijing. All athletes will not be allowed to leave their so-called bubble and that basically means: They will be treated like prisoners on a trip together. The chains on the feet are missing. That would make it difficult to do sports. And yet everyone's freedom of movement is restricted, and this particularly affects intellectual freedom. The thoughts should be controlled and because that is fortunately not yet possible, they should at least remain locked up in the athletes' heads. Beijing has made a clear threat in this regard. No recommendation. A threat. It says, for example, that “any criticism of the Olympic spirit, especially against Chinese laws and regulations, would result in punishment.” Caning, withdrawal of accreditation, deprivation of food, even solitary confinement? It is a specter that hovers around the bubble. The organizers of these games want silence.

The issue of human rights is on the index anyway. But a skier should not comment on possible insufficient snow conditions. A ski jumper shouldn't be allowed to tell people how he finds the jumps. Especially not if he doesn't like her. A biathlete must not complain about the wind that makes shooting so difficult. And you have to keep quiet about the food and accommodation if it doesn't meet your usual requirements. Microphones that are held out to athletes with a so-called fishing rod - because of Corona - are an invention of the capitalist, Western devil. Every word out of the mouth of an athlete, and especially that of an official, is guaranteed to be subject to intensive scrutiny. And woe betide you if the word Hong Kong or Tibet or even Uyghurs is mentioned: then the curtain falls on the games. Control has long since gone beyond the spoken word. The corona tests, which are listed on an app, open the door to monitoring all participants. Many countries have long advised their athletes to leave their personal laptops or cell phones at home. And the mobile phones that are issued should also be left in China. On the one hand, this saves customs fees when leaving the country and also allows access to the stored data after the games. A feeling of powerlessness The organizers of these Olympic Games are happy to hide behind Covid-19 with their measures against a free life at this event, which is supposedly the most beautiful sports festival in the world. But it probably fits everyone's concept just fine that you can screw everyone under the guise of Omicron. Instead of joy, fear and terror are spread. I have attended many Olympic Games and am commenting on my 14th Opening Ceremony for Eurosport. And always, even in 2008 at the Summer Games in Beijing, a certain anticipation was noticeable. Now I'm like almost everyone who wants to realize their Olympic dream by winning a medal: it's a feeling of powerlessness that's a constant companion. Every movement that is not for sport will be viewed critically, every word will be subject to detailed scrutiny, every contact even outside the bubble will probably end in a quarantine hotel where you are not even allowed to open the windows. There is also the concern about possible positive corona tests, which would then be the end of all hopes. They will be oppressive Olympic Games, games of merciless control, which will make it clear to all of us, who fortunately do not have to live in China, how good we actually have it and what a great asset our way of life is, which allows us to really be ourselves can meet for coffee with a happy heart.

Football

Italy

International leagues

International

Winter sports

Tennis

Other sports

Motorsport

Cycling

Watersports

Events

Favorites

A muzzle also for Wierer

The control screws at the Olympic Games in Beijing, which begin on February 4th, are being tightened more and more. Our columnist Sigi Heinrich still remembers games in which everyone could meet in a relaxed and relaxed atmosphere.

Suggestions

Comments (1)