G7 surprise in Garmisch-Partenkirchen: change of location announced - exact background unclear

Created: 03/09/2022, 14:19

By: Christian Fellner

A press center at the Hausberg car park in Garmisch-Partenkirchen is currently out of the question.

The skiers still have it in their hands.

© Thomas Very

The press center for this year's G7 summit will be on Hausberg.

For this purpose, the parking areas must be built over.

The work only starts after the end of the ski season.

Garmisch-Partenkirchen

– At least for the people of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Johannes Dimroth had a surprise with him in Krün: the deputy head of the federal government’s press and information office (formerly the federal press office) not only ennobled the region around the venue of the G7 summit at the end of June, the Elmauer Tal, and revealed that he was already on vacation in Werdenfelser Land.

He also had a few facts with him for those present in the Kurhaus.

Of course, the international media center is being built again in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

That was expected.

But: Not in the Olympic Ice Sports Center like in 2015, but this time on the Hausberg car park.

"There will be around 800 jobs there," emphasized Dimroth.

The ice rink, on the other hand, serves purely as a base for police forces.

The planning of the security measures is already in full swing.

G7 summit: parking areas on the local mountain overbuilt - skiing should not be restricted

There was no concrete information about the reasons for this change of location.

The time factor is likely to play a role, but those responsible also kept a low profile when asked by Stefan Schneiderhan, head of duty at the press office.

But the fact is: the current ski season in Garmisch-Partenkirchen will not be affected by G7.

"Of course we're still waiting for that," emphasizes Schneiderhan.

"No one needs to worry about that." That was clearly stated in the talks with the market town on whose grounds the parking lot is located at the foot of the local mountain.

According to his information, skiing is currently planned until the Easter weekend.

G7 summit: those responsible expect enormous media interest

Those responsible in Berlin are once again expecting enormous media interest in the summit of the seven heads of government from the USA, Canada, Japan, Great Britain, France, Italy and Germany.

"At the moment we can only estimate how many journalists are coming," emphasized Dimroth.

Because the accreditation for the meeting is not yet running.

In 2015 around 3000 media professionals were registered.

"This is definitely no small task," clarifies the deputy head of the authority.

One factor of uncertainty is the coronavirus.

"We don't know how the pandemic will occupy us in early summer," emphasized Dimroth.

But in this respect there is a good exchange with the local health department.

Focus on sustainability: G7 summit is “in harmony with nature”

Since the topics of sustainability and climate protection should not only play a major role at the summit of the heads of government, but should also be exemplified by the organizer at the meeting itself, planning is going in this direction.

If possible, structural changes should be avoided.

Bavaria's Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann (CSU) referred indirectly to the federal highway 2 between Murnau and Eschenlohe, which had been raised in advance for 2015 for flood protection reasons.

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Such projects are not planned.

Not even on the way to Elmau.

Like the B2, the toll road was not only provided with a new surface, but was expanded and widened almost to the level of the federal highway.

"We're not building a new road," assured Dimroth.

In general, "the summit is in harmony with nature, we'll be careful, I can promise you that, and coordinate everything with the authorities".

G7 summit in Elmau: E-buses for the transfer

Electric buses are also to be used to transfer journalists from Garmisch-Partenkirchen to the so-called briefing center, a temporary press center in Elmau in the employee car park.

However, Dimroth immediately dampens too much euphoria: "But we won't be able to do it exclusively." Another approach with local color: "We will rely on regional catering for the catering."

By the way: everything from the region is also available in our regular GAP newsletter.