Enlarge image
Photo: HOW HWEE YOUNG/EPA
AreaRead the video transcript expand here
Thomas Bach, IOC President:
"I have to say I was very (art break) very disturbed yesterday when I saw the competition on TV."
The day after the drama about Russian figure skater Kamila Valiyeva, Thomas Bach gave his first and possibly only press conference during the Beijing Winter Games.
Valiyeva is only 15 years old, but is currently considered the best figure skater in the world.
Shortly after she won the gold medal for the Russian team, it was revealed that one of her doping tests from late last year was positive.
Because it is unclear how the heart drug got into her blood, she was still allowed to start in the individual competition.
But the pressure was too great and she fell several times.
In the end she was fourth.
Thomas Bach, IOC President:
“I know a bit about pressure from my time as an athlete.
But this pressure is beyond my imagination.
Especially for a 15-year-old.«
Bach particularly criticized the way the supervisors dealt with Valiewa.
After the unsuccessful freestyle, her trainer did not hug the athlete to comfort her, but accused her of lacking discipline.
Eteri Tutberidze (as a quote tile + over-voice):
»Why did you stop fighting?
Explain that to me!
At some point after the Axel you let everything go.«
Thomas Bach, IOC President:
»It gave me goosebumps to see that.
Instead of comforting her, instead of helping her.
You could feel this icy atmosphere.«
On site in Beijing, Markus Krämer observes the Olympic Games for SPIEGEL.
In his view, the Valiyeva case saved Thomas Bach from other critical questions.
Marcus Krämer, DER SPIEGEL, in Beijing:
»Of course he's right about the content.
All in all, however, one has to say that it was simply a staged show.
Thomas Bach enters here in Beijing, at most twice in front of the press.
He has to reckon with critical questions.
Here in China there are enough topics that you can work through there.
Human rights, for example.
The case of this Russian figure skater totally blew this PK away.
Ultimately, he only had to take a position on this, and it was also quite clear and unambiguous.
However, other issues did not arise at all.
He has practically wriggled out of his duty to address critical issues from time to time.«
However, the case of Valiewa also offers an opportunity to question what is taken for granted in Olympic operations.
Even the experienced former figure skating Olympic champion Katarina Witt lost her composure at the way she was treated on television.
Source: ARD sports show
Witt:
"Exactly what happened that should have protected her. She's 15, she's a child. I'm sorry. You see her sitting there, collapsing. Well, if she... well... can you turn that off?”
The case has sparked debate about an age limit in figure skating.
Gold and silver medalists Anna Shcherbakova and Alexandra Trussova, both also from the Russian team, are also just 17 years old.
But how do you protect children from overly ambitious parents, coaches and carers?
Marcus Krämer, DER SPIEGEL:
»The Olympics are such a big stage that you simply can't expect 14 or 15-year-olds to play in this form.
Therefore: I would be very clear in favor of raising the age limit, yes.
Of course, child abuse in the real sense may mean something else.
But I would put it in line with that.
She was actually abused yesterday for the purposes of this coach, for the purposes of the Russian team, yes."
One person who could change this situation would be the man at the top of the Olympic hierarchy: IOC President Thomas Bach.
/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/prisa/EANZPL4LJ4XJUHJYT4H66P67Q4.jpg)
