Felix Neureuther sadly: "I am very worried"

Created: 12/23/2021, 4:22 PM

From: Marius Epp

For Felix Neureuther, the Olympics are developing in the wrong direction.

© Ulrich Wagner / imago

Felix Neureuther is concerned about the development of the Olympic Games.

He denounces a decline in values ​​and calls for a "big bang".

Munich - is the Olympics still what it used to be?

Felix Neureuther thinks: No.

The 24th Winter Olympics are taking place in Beijing in a little more than a month - and enthusiasm is limited here and throughout Germany.

“I'm very worried about the Olympic idea, which is an incredibly great one, which brought a lot of great moments and brought a lot of people to the sport.

How does the IOC manage to regain credibility?

So much went wrong ", says Neureuther in the ARD podcast" Olympia-Countdown ".

Olympia: Felix Neureuther criticizes IOC and calls for a boycott

The games in Beijing were not a lucky star from the start, and German winter sports enthusiasts expressed criticism.

In the People's Republic of China there is no freedom of expression, freedom of the press or freedom of religion.

In a country in which minorities are oppressed, the Olympic values ​​should now be exemplified.

How does that fit together?

Video: Neureuther for sustainable games

Not so good, mean countries like the USA, Great Britain or Canada and announced a diplomatic boycott.

That is not enough for Neureuther.

“There has to be a big bang for something to change - it's the same at FIFA.

Otherwise nothing will ever change. ”It is the demand for a sporting boycott.

Olympia in Beijing: Neureuther does not reach IOC President Bach

The former ski racer has already contacted IOC President Thomas Bach several times in vain.

“I tried to talk to him several times, but it still hasn't worked.

It would also be important for him to face criticism and discuss things with former athletes.

For me it would also be nice to hear how a Thomas Bach thinks about things, ”he says.

He would like to ask him “how the IOC intends to bring the traditional Olympic idea and sport back into focus - and not commerce and all the background noise.” His wish remains unfulfilled.

After all, Thomas Bach has something to do, and the go-ahead will soon be given in Beijing.

In a zone with a desert climate that has never seen winter sports enthusiasts.

In a country where winter sports played no role before the Olympics were awarded.

No, the sport is really not in the foreground.