German biathlon star with brutal Olympic billing: "No matter what, Beijing was always worse"
Created: 02/21/2022, 20:16
By: Christoph Klaucke
Biathlon star Erik Lesser draws a tough Olympic conclusion.
© Pavel Bednyakov/Imago
Erik Lesser makes a tough conclusion about the Olympics.
The German biathlon star settles accounts with Beijing.
There is also criticism for IOC boss Thomas Bach.
Beijing - The Beijing Winter Olympics are over.
Great sporting moments and dramatic defeats, but also scandals like the doping case of the Russian figure skater Kamila Waljewa will be remembered forever.
At the Olympics, however, the corona pandemic and the controversial political situation in China also made the headlines.
The German biathlon star Erik Lesser had already been heavily criticized in advance and is now sharing his sobering Beijing conclusion.
Olympia: Biathlon star Erik Lesser draws a bitter conclusion – "Beijing was always worse"
"Somehow I don't regret it because now, in hindsight, it gives me the opportunity to report on what it was like there.
And I can certainly say in 50 years: Folks, no matter what happened, Beijing was always worse," said Erik Lesser in an interview on
Deutschlandfunk
.
The 33-year-old had already criticized the allocation of the games to China, the gigantism in Beijing and the International Olympic Committee with German boss Thomas Bach in the past few weeks.
Lesser quoted his former colleague Arnd Peiffer, who said he would "rather drink a glass of pus than start in Beijing".
Olympia: Biathlete Erik Lesser criticizes China – "The human element was completely missing"
He didn't experience an Olympic mood because no spectators were allowed on site.
"It was all like a test tube conjure up," Lesser said.
The strict corona protective measures, protective suits, FFP2 masks and face shields for many helpers made many things appear "unapproachable".
,
"The human was completely missing," said Lesser.
“China is certainly very happy that there is Corona, then you can blame a lot of things on it.
Without Covid, a few trips to tourist attractions might have been possible," but only what was really wanted to be shown was made visible.
Olympia: Biathlon star Lesser attacks IOC boss Bach and raises serious allegations
In addition, he was "simply disappointed" that IOC boss Bach and his spokesman simply wiped away critical inquiries, said Lesser.
"The fact that the Olympic Games are apolitical, that's complete nonsense," said Lesser, emphasizing: "I can't understand at all that people are still chasing a lie.
I would have wished that a president with a decent backbone would direct a few more critical tones towards the Chinese government.”
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Lesser has already won three medals at the Olympics - two silvers in Sochi 2014 and one bronze in Pyeongchang 2018 - in China he remained without a medal.
After the sporting disappointments, the 33-year-old drew a bitter conclusion from Beijing.
“I take absolutely nothing from the Olympic Games.
Neither a medal nor a good result, a good time was also limited here.”
(ck/dpa)
