The German ski ace Felix Neureuther looks with mixed feelings towards the 2018 Olympic Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea. The 33-year-old criticizes the IOC for its lack of a clear position in political matters and denies the charm of the world’s biggest sporting event.
“The IOC must become more critical and consistent (…) To position oneself and say: If the situation remains so explosive, one must also consider that it would be better to cancel the Olympic Games. And not only for companies and sponsors,”emphasized Neureuther in an interview with Bild am Sonntag.
The new father of a daughter addressed above all the awarding of the games to South Korea:”The venues, the fact that even in Austria the country of Tyrol is against Olympia – all this makes me contemplative and sad”.
The games would have lost their charm. A swimmer can fetch gold ten times, a cross-country skier can fetch gold ten times, and a cross-country skier I know how many times.
The euphoria and greed of the offspring had also disappeared. Even Neureuthers gold dream is no longer as important to him as it was in younger years. Not only his daughter, but also some questionable decisions of the IOC bosses contribute to this.