Sustainable World Championships in Oberstdorf: The cross

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The cross-country stadium in Oberstdorf was expanded for the World Cup

Photo: Karl-Josef Hildenbrand / dpa

Johannes Rydzek has a special relationship with Oberstdorf.

He was born and raised in the town in Oberallgäu.

Here he came into contact with winter sports, Nordic combined, which became his first career.

And what a successful one: Olympic gold in PyeongChang, six world titles, 17 individual world cup victories.

At his home World Cup, of all places, things went badly for Rydzek, he clearly missed the top ten in the two individual competitions and was therefore not nominated for the teams.

Rydzek is 29 years old and will still be able to practice his sport at the highest level for a while.

But he has been planning his second career for a long time.

In Kempten, 40 minutes north of Oberstdorf on the B19, he is studying industrial engineering at the university.

Rydzek wrote his bachelor thesis on the conversion of the cross-country stadium in Oberstdorf for the World Cup, which ended last weekend.

Rydzek was also a guest on the Environment and Sustainability Committee of the World Cup organizing committee.

He is also familiar with the controversial issues surrounding this World Cup.

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Johannes Rydezk dealt with environmental protection in Oberstdorf in his bachelor thesis

Photo: Jürgen Feichter / Eibner Europa / imago images

Does popular sport come into its own in the Ried?

The expansion of the cross-country stadium, for example, is the subject of controversy.

Overall, the costs for the world championship amount to over 40 million euros, the modernization of the cross-country ski trail and the construction of a multifunctional building just outside the city center have devoured 25 million euros.

It was important for Rydzek to deal with the renovation "not only from the point of view of the competitive athlete, but also from the point of view of the tourist, the local or the conservationist," as he told SPIEGEL.

For Oberstdorf's mayor, Klaus King, the “most sustainable cross-country skiing center in the world” has been created, the World Cup organizing committee speaks of a “lighthouse project for Nordic sport”.

It sounds like a real showpiece, but it's not that simple.

The importance for competitive sport is undisputed, the athletes find top conditions in winter.

But what about in summer?

Have tourists, who are of immense importance to Oberstdorf, been given sufficient consideration?

How does popular sport come into its own in the Ried?

World Cup report: positive, sustainable, exemplary

These questions were central components of the “Environment and Sustainability” committee, on which Rydzek also sat.

A sustainability report was presented by this body during the World Cup.

It says: "The central concept is an open, multifunctional sports facility with a spatial and temporal usage concept for all target groups of sport, for guests and locals, for people of all ages - with and without disabilities."

"Mainly headlines were formulated in the committee on sustainability"

Michael Finger, chairman of the Oberstdorf local group in the Bund Naturschutz

The entire report reads: positive, sustainable, exemplary.

The organizers of the World Cup even go so far that the concept should serve as a template for upcoming major events in Germany.

Michael Finger can only shake his head.

He is the chairman of the Oberstdorf local group in the Bund Naturschutz and has been critical of the renovation of the cross-country stadium.

In his opinion, only the minimum legal requirements were met during the construction phase in terms of nature conservation.

"In the sustainability committee, headlines were mainly formulated," Finger told SPIEGEL.

»For example on the subject of public transport or for a regional catering structure.

These points were not worked out. "

Sustainable for everyone: Rydzek has doubts

A new functional building and a pump house with a green flat roof were built for the cross-country stadium.

There is a training hall.

In summer, an almost seven kilometer long track can be used for roller skis.

Johannes Rydzek's ambivalence can be seen in the conversation.

He praises the ideas.

As a Oberstdorf resident, he hopes that it will be implemented soon.

But he too has doubts.

"There are operator concepts for the use of the buildings, but these have not yet been implemented," says Rydzek.

"The roller conveyor alone will not be enough to achieve sustainable use."

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Pure alpine panorama - and less and less snow: the cross-country ski trails in Oberstdorf

Photo: Karl-Josef Hildenbrand / dpa

Finger's criticism goes in a similar direction.

"It would have been really sustainable if more nature conservation areas had been designated or the FFH area (

flora-fauna-habitat, editor's note

) had been expanded." So more nature instead of a roller track.

Two world championships instead of one?

Oberstdorf wants and has to break away from winter tourism.

There are only a few days of snow left in the 800 meter high market town.

Climate change can be clearly felt in the former winter sports Mecca.

"Summer tourism will become more and more important," says Bergith Hornbacher-Burgstaller from the Greens, third mayor of Oberstdorf.

Mayor King and the World Cup organizing committee not only want to stage the facilities for the population and tourism, they want to bring the Nordic World Ski Championships back to Oberstdorf in 2027.

"I would be very happy about a 'Bonus World Cup' and would think it would be nice if the Fis would meet us with another application."

Klaus King (CSU), Mayor of Oberstdorf

Since the next two World Championships in 2023 and 2025 have already been taken, 2027 is the next possible time.

"I would be very happy about a 'Bonus World Cup' and would think it would be nice if the FIS (

the World Winter Sports Federation, editor's note

) would come forward with another application," says Mayor King.

Bonus World Cup 2027: All cards have to be on the table beforehand

Politicians and organizers would like separate conditions from the FIS because no spectators were allowed due to the corona pandemic.

It's about financial aspects - and about the fact that no World Cup festival like 16 years ago at the last World Cup was possible.

Those responsible hope that the application fee will be waived or reduced.

However, the FIS informed SPIEGEL that the same conditions would apply to all applicants.

"This way, there can be no regional added value or empathy among citizens."

Michael Finger, chairman of the Oberstdorf local group in the Nature Conservation Federation, on the central marketing of the Ski World Cup via the Fis and Infront

Greens and ÖDP want full transparency before a new application.

That means: The decision-makers (including Mayor King, the World Cup organizing committee and the Presidium of the German Ski Association) must clearly state what costs will be incurred and what agreement will be made with the FIS.

The certification of the cross-country skiing stadium, i.e. the TÜV, is valid until 2026. It is not clear whether modifications are necessary for the stadium to receive another approval, as Michael Finger explains.

First a referendum, then (not) an application

The DSV would like to apply with Garmisch-Partenkirchen for the Alpine World Ski Championships 2027.

DSV President Franz Steinle sees no problem in entering the race with two German locations - even if the chance of at least one rejection is high.

He suggests talking to other places that want to apply beforehand.

Cross-party has meanwhile agreed on a citizens' survey before applying for the 2027 World Cup, says Hornbacher-Burgstaller from the Greens.

The survey should actually be carried out by the end of April, then the application deadline for 2027 will expire. Impossible, says the third mayor, and wishes the FIS to postpone the deadline.

Rydzek does not want to give up hope yet.

"Another application would be great for Oberstdorf," he says.

“It just wasn't the World Cup that everyone dreamed of.

I hope there will be another World Cup in 2027.

But I fear the opposite. "

Before the 2027 World Cup, everyone could work together on a sustainable event from which everyone would benefit.

People like Michael Finger, Bergith Hornbacher-Burgstaller or Johannes Rydzek have an idea of ​​how a World Cup can really be sustainable.

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