German handball boss describes conditions at the Olympics: "Like in prison"

The 2020 Olympics officially begin in Tokyo next Friday.

One year late due to the corona pandemic.

Handball boss Bob Hanning describes the conditions on site.

Munich / Tokushima - It finally starts on Friday *!

The 2020 Olympic Games * in Tokyo start a year late - but after more than a year of the corona pandemic, spectators are still not allowed.

Most of the fans at the European Football Championship recently returned to the stadiums, but there is no such thing at the Olympics.

That is bitter for the actors and the organizers alike.

But there was obviously no other way to implement it.

Despite everything: “The athletes are really looking forward to the Olympic Games *”, says Vice President of the German Handball Federation Bob Hanning in an interview with

SID

: “It is very important for them that the competitions take place.

Of course there are special conditions, and it is nicer to have 15,000 spectators in the hall instead of looking at concrete blocks at the games. "

The DHB stars * are motivated despite the lack of supporters.

"On the other hand, the Olympic Games are still Olympic Games, and when the team moves into the village on Thursday, it will be something special for everyone," says Hanning.

Olympia 2021: German handball boss Hanning describes corona conditions - "Like in prison"

However, it should not be easy for the athletes.

"So that everything goes well, there are strong restrictions," reveals the DHB vice: "You really have to imagine it as being in a large prison.

In Tokushima, they don't even get to the beach, and everything is very tight.

I am very worried that there will be a certain amount of tiredness in the mind.

With all of this it must also be mentioned that the Japanese are perfect hosts because they are extremely friendly. "

For Hanning it was right to pull off the Olympics despite all the obstacles, as he explains further.

“I definitely think it's the right decision in the interests of the athletes,” said the 53-year-old long-time handball official: “Even if it's not the Olympic Games as we know and love them, it's still something special.

Especially for the many individual athletes who only take center stage every four years. "

The DHB team wants to make amends after the disappointing World Cup at the beginning of the year (12th place).

Olympic gold, which Hanning had proclaimed as a goal when he took office in 2013, seems very ambitious.

Or not?

Olympia 2021: dream of handball gold is alive!

Hanning remains optimistic

“The dream of Olympic gold is alive!” Says Hanning and gives the reasons for his optimism: “We cannot use the World Cup as a benchmark.

The conditions were completely different, a lot of players didn't play, so we didn't have the stability we needed.

Now we have almost the best line-up, with the exception of Fabian Wiede and Patrick Wiencek.

So I believe that we will see a strong German team at the Olympics for whom a medal is absolutely possible. "

Germany meets Spain, France, Argentina, Brazil and Norway in the preliminary round - and has thus caught a hammer group.

At the start, the DHB team will face European champions Spain on July 24th.

(smk / sid) * tz.de is an offer from IPPPEN.MEDIA

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