Germany's Olympic Dreams on Hold as IOC Turns a Blind Eye
It seems like Germany's hopes of hosting the 2026 Olympic bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton competitions might just be a pipe dream, thanks to the International Olympic Committee (IOC). According to a report by "Freie Wort" Suhl, the IOC has indicated that they will not agree to a relocation of the events from Cortina d'Ampezzo to Germany. The reason? German restrictions on athletes' participation in international competitions due to political reasons.
This isn't just a jab at Germany; it's a reflection of the IOC's stance against countries imposing such restrictions. And with Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser (SPD) openly stating that action would be taken against Russian and Belarusian athletes in Germany due to the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine, Germany finds itself at the bottom of the list for hosting these events.
So, where does that leave Germany? Well, out in the cold, it seems. As no track for bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton will be built for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina, the Italians have been scouting for alternative venues. Initially, Innsbruck, La Plagne, and St. Moritz were under consideration, but after Oberhof expressed interest, both the German Bobsleigh and Luge Federation (BSD) and the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) sent a request to the Italian Olympic Committee.
However, with Germany's bid seemingly rejected, Olympia might have to look elsewhere for her Olympic debut in 2026. Even Oberhof seems out of the race, leaving Cortina as the only real contender. But with construction delays and uncertainties surrounding the completion of the sliding track in Cortina, the Italians have a contingency plan in place: Lake Placid, New York.
Enrichment Insight: Lake Placid remains a viable alternative if the Cortina track does not meet the necessary standards.
So, it's a waiting game now. The IOC has set a deadline for the end of March for pre-certification tests on the Cortina track, and if it fails to meet the criteria, it could face relocation to Lake Placid. But for now, Germany can only watch as its Olympic dreams slip away.
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Enrichment Insight: The IOC has demanded a Plan B, which involves moving the events to Lake Placid if the Cortina track is not ready.
