While organized beach volleyball players adhere to strict corona requirements, recreational athletes dive through the sand with little distance in outdoor pools. This amazes Thomas Barnstorf, chairman of the VCTT.
Tegernsee - While the athletes of the Tegernseer Tal volleyball club (VCTT) adhere to the strict Corona requirements of their sport, on beach volleyball courts in outdoor pools and at lakes, amateur athletes dive through the sand with little distance despite the pandemic. In our conversation, Chairman Thomas Barnstorf explains why that frustrates him and what he now wants.
Mr. Barnstorf, how is your association doing with the implementation of the so-called corona transitional rules?
That actually works quite well. We as a club can survive the situation. I'm more frustrated by the general situation.
What do you mean by that specifically?
Recently the Tegernsee Advent Magic was canceled for this winter, that was the trigger for me. Because we share a stand there with several clubs. Don't get me wrong: Corona is here and the associated measures are absolutely necessary, but we have to meet the strictest requirements in order to be able to carry out training on our beach volleyball courts. Disinfectants, distance or a greatly changed game, to name just a few key points. But when I see the behavior of many in the outdoor pools or the gatherings of people on the public beach volleyball courts, I am very surprised and I simply don't understand why.
Do the strict requirements for the VCTT have a financial impact?
Not in terms of games or training. But of course, in addition to the Tegernsee castle market, I also had to cancel the forest festival and our E-Werk beach series with seven tournaments. This means that we lack important sources of income. So we currently finance ourselves exclusively through membership fees.
What would you wish for, at least in the medium term?
I hoped that Corona would make people more humble and treat each other differently. Unfortunately, this is not the case in many areas. I think it's a shame that they show so little consideration for each other.
The interview was conducted by Markus Eham.