Olympic Games in Tokyo without spectators
Warendorf (fn-press). Only two weeks to go until the Olympic Games begin in Tokyo (July 23 to August 8). The anticipation among the German riders is great - despite some question marks that are still associated with the mega event in Japan. One thing is already clear, these Games will be different from their predecessors in many ways - for example, no spectators are allowed. During an online press conference, participants*, coaches* and DOKR Managing Director Dr. Dennis Peiler talked about the current situation and expectations.
"These games will be very different". All those concerned agree on that. Although the athletes expect top sporting conditions, the Games will largely take place on site to the exclusion of the public. "Billions of people will be watching the Olympic Games on their screens, but very few will be able to be there on site," said Dennis Peiler. For example, no foreign guests or domestic spectators will be allowed. "This is unfortunate, especially for the active athletes, for equestrianism but also for all other sports. At the same time, it's important for them that the Games take place, many have worked decades for this and only have the chance once in a lifetime."
"Without spectators, Olympic Games are a very different event than we imagined. My memories of my first Games in Rio are very good, we were able to watch the other sports and it was a great sporting celebration. In Tokyo it will be different, so the anticipation is also different," said Daniel Deußer, the world number one in show jumping. "We try to do our best, even if there are no spectators on site, then for the spectators watching from home."
And Isabell Werth says: "I look forward to the Olympic Games with great and unreserved anticipation, but we are going to Tokyo with an uncertain feeling because we don't know what to expect. We know that some information will come to us somewhat filtered if necessary." He continued, "We want to prepare well, get over in one piece and then hope that the welcome on site will be more positive than it seems at the moment and that we feel comfortable there."
Unlike in London or Rio, where the athletes were accommodated in the Olympic Village, the German team in Tokyo has taken up quarters in a hotel. "This is primarily for logistical reasons. For our team, this means much shorter distances and we are able to accommodate the riders and their environment at one location. In addition, all nations are required to stay only in their 'bubble' anyway and to keep their contacts to a minimum," said Dr. Peiler.
The sporting conditions, on the other hand, leave little to be desired. "The Equestrian Park in Tokyo offers excellent sporting conditions and - unlike the situation in London, for example - is designed as a permanent training center for Japanese equestrian sports," said Dr. Peiler. The facility is also well equipped to handle the high temperatures. "The heat is certainly an issue, but the regeneration facilities are super. Everything is air-conditioned, which is something you don't find elsewhere. Otherwise it is often really hot 24 hours a day," explained eventing rider Michael Jung, who is traveling to Tokyo as the defending champion and already knows the conditions on site from the 2019 test event.
Jumping rider Daniel Deußer also has few concerns, both in terms of riders and horses: "Basically, Killer Queen is a very energetic horse. She has already gone in Doha and Wellington in high temperatures and coped well with the climate. Traveling has also not been a problem so far, so I think she will also do well with the conditions in Tokyo, but everything else remains to be seen," he said. "We are well prepared for horses and people, the jumping is always at night, during the day a lot of things are air-conditioned, we can move in halls and so we can handle the heat well."
Several things have also changed in the mode of the Olympic Games, starting with the fact that only three riders form a team and thus the strike result is missing. A change with which the FN and the riders are anything but happy. However, the procedure in the individual disciplines has also changed. In dressage, the Grand Prix serves as a qualification for the team and freestyle and to determine the starting order for the Grand Prix Special, in which the team medals are then awarded. In eventing, penalty points are awarded for elimination in a partial test. Under certain circumstances, the reserve rider can be substituted afterwards - also for penalty points. "We have a new system that doesn't forgive mistakes. We don't want to go there to compete, but to achieve a top result. To do that, we have to attack in all three disciplines so that we have a chance," said national coach Hans Melzer.
In the jumping, the individual classification precedes the team jumping, whereby a reserve rider can then also be used for this. "The new mode is a challenge. The fact that the individual classification takes place first does not make team building any easier, of course. The mode without a strike result leads to the fact that even more the form of the day decides," said national coach Otto Becker. "Maurice Tebbel is a clear reinforcement for the team classification, in order to then be able to go one better in the Nations Cup," Becker explained his thoughts on the team formation.
Despite the change in conditions, expectations are high for the equestrian sport - both his own expectations and those from outside. "At the beginning of the Olympic cycle, we agreed with the DOSB and the BMI on a corridor of three to five medals, with the focus primarily on team medals," Dr. Peiler said.
After the Olympic Games, the Paralympics will be held in Tokyo from August 24 to September 5. This will be the last time Britta Bando will accompany the German team as team captain, but for Regine Mispelkamp (Geldern, Germany), a World Cup and European Championship participant, it would be the first Paralympics, should she be nominated. "The Paralympics are a lifelong dream. First of all, it's a great event to have the chance to participate at all and to present yourself for Germany," said the rider, who suffers from multiple sclerosis. Britta Bando also has her sights set on Tokyo, as she still has a small score to settle after Rotterdam. "Things didn't go so well for us at the European Championships. And it would be nice if I could make up for that again. But we have partly new riders or also new horses on the longlist. We have prepared ourselves as well as possible, we have - as far as it was possible - visited many international tournaments, we have done additional courses in Warendorf. For the final success, of course, a bit of luck and the form of the day also count," she said about her expectations. FN/Hb/lau/mly/
