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The new Olympic bobsleigh and luge facility in Yanqing
Photo: via www.imago-images.de / imago images / Kyodo News
Shortly before the start of the Olympic winter, Germany's best tobogganers look with little understanding at the extensive construction work for Beijing 2022. "I see all of this critically, but I did not assume anything else," said three-time Olympic champion Felix Loch: "It is everything exaggerated, oversized, it's swank to show the world what they can do. "
The record world champion and the tobogganists will contest their World Cup prelude this weekend on the new, completely covered track in Yanqing, on which the Olympic medals will also be won in February (4th to 20th).
Test competitions for bobsleigh athletes and tobogganists have already taken place there in the past few weeks.
"It looks nice," said Loch: "But it just doesn't fit into the world that is currently thinking about sustainability." It's not just about the toboggan run , but about all the sports facilities here «.
In Yanqing about 70 kilometers from Beijing, in addition to the almost two-kilometer-long ice channel, the entire area for alpine skiing competitions has been created, as well as one of three Olympic villages.
From the point of view of Olympic champion Natalie Geisenberger, "it reaches dimensions that make you wonder: What about sustainability?" a relationship?
These huge halls, the building complexes, columns, all the concrete. "
Loch therefore calls on the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to consistently implement what has long been written down in Agenda 2020 + 5: sustainable solutions as early as the awarding of the Games.
“It's just not possible to completely rebuild everything over and over again,” said the 32-year-old: “And you don't need that.
Why don't we go to Lillehammer and whip up the Olympic sites there?
That would also be a huge benefit for the youngsters there in these winter sports countries.
It's something that you absolutely have to do. "
aha / sid
