Corona rules in China: Toboggan legend Hackl considers the Winter Games to be “unfeasible”

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Georg Hackl (archive photo)

Photo: STAR MEDIA / imago/STAR MEDIA

Former luger Georg Hackl, 55, has been critical of the Winter Olympics planned for February 4-20 in China. »Especially in a host country that is dealing with the pandemic so drastically, sets significantly lower limits for PCR tests than in Germany, takes athletes off the ice rink shortly before the start and locks them in quarantine, a major event like the Olympics is not possible at all «, said the three-time Olympic champion of the »Welt am Sonntag«.

There are still discussions about the corona limit values, which are assessed differently in China than in Europe.

It is now important to know which limit values ​​​​are the focus of the tests, said Bernd Eisenbichler, the sports director of the German biathletes.

"We have to avoid having a positive PCR test at the airport in Beijing from an athlete who just got on the plane with a negative PCR test," said the official.

Hackl fears that the majority of athletes may not be allowed to start at all.

“That doesn't make any sense to me.

That's why my idea would be to postpone the games because of the virus," said Hackl.

In the sports world, this topic is currently at the top of the agenda.

Among other things, an international group of experts was set up to deal explicitly with the issue of limit values.

The lugers had experienced the restrictive corona policy of the Chinese during their test competitions in November.

'It was strange.

After the plane landed in Beijing, we had to stay in the cabin for a very long time.

When I looked out of the window at some point, all I saw were hooded figures everywhere.

I only met people with full masks on site, i.e. people with white protective suits, face masks, Plexiglas panes over them and rubber gloves.

Like astronauts,” Hackl said.

see/dpa