Olympia 2018: Neureuther renews criticism of IOC

Felix Neureuther has renewed his criticism of the International Olympic Committee concerning the Olympic Games.

“The IOC has trampled on this wonderful product, which makes me very sad,”Neureuther said in the ZDF sports studio.

The result is “that Olympia takes place in Sochi, Pyeongchang or Beijing, where billions have to be spent. This can’t be happening. You should go back to your roots, not always focus on commerce, but on sport.”

Neureuther called for a “complete upheaval” in the functionary system,”not only in the IOC, but also in FIFA. The system needs to be rebuilt without corruption, so that the normal spectator and we athletes no longer feel like they’re just charging the dough.”

The IOC decision, the Russian team after the state doping there was only partially taken by Olympia in Pyeongchang (9. till 25. February), the 33-year-old greeted.

It would be “madness” for undubbed athletes if they weren’t allowed to start there, he said. Neureuther himself falls out after his cruciate ligament rupture for the games.

“There is a goal in my head, but the most important thing is to be patient,”he said,”I don’t care if I’m in the snow in June, July or August. It is important that the knee and the Neureuther function one hundred percent again:” He wants to “ski as long as it really makes sense and until it’s hard for me to drive away from home”.