Olympics-Germany see ‘improved’ isolation conditions, others still struggle

By Karolos Grohmann

BEIJING (Reuters) – Germany are glad with a swift enchancment of isolation circumstances for his or her three athletes who’ve examined optimistic for COVID-19 and are in quarantine on the Beijing Winter Olympics, staff chief Dirk Schimmelpfennig stated on Sunday.

However different athletes, together with Finnish ice hockey participant Marko Anttila, are nonetheless combating their very own isolation quarters and the extent of companies supplied by organisers.

Schimmelpfennig on Saturday had referred to as circumstances for triple Olympic gold medalist Nordic mixed skier Eric Frenzel and two different German athletes “unacceptable”, demanding a whole overhaul together with larger and cleaner rooms, a working web connection, sports activities gear and higher meals.

On Sunday Schimmelpfennig stated organisers had acted rapidly following a concerted effort by the staff, the ski federation and the Worldwide Olympic Committee.

“We have now succeeded since yesterday in attaining a marked enchancment in circumstances for the athletes,” he advised reporters.

“Now the athletes have a satisfying framework of circumstances. They’ve larger rooms now, working wifi, an train bike within the room so we now have acceptable and satisfying circumstances in a really tough scenario for the athletes,” he stated.

Other than Frenzel, who has received six Olympic medals in whole, Germany teammate Terence Weber in addition to determine skater Nolan Seegert are additionally in quarantine, hoping to recuperate in time for his or her competitions.

However for Finland’s Anttila some points stay, primarily with regard to the standard of meals on supply.

“He isn’t getting nice meals and he’s a really large man,” stated Finland ice hockey coach Jukka Jalonen. “He wish to have extra power and higher meals there as properly. As a result of he doesn’t know what’s occurring and what is going to occur with him. It’s like uncertainties so it’s a unhealthy factor additionally mentally.”

Greater than 350 Video games members, together with dozens of athletes, have examined optimistic upon arrival within the Chinese language capital since Jan. 23.

Athletes wanting to go away the particular quarantine resorts have to be freed from signs and ship two adverse PCR exams 24 hours aside.

“We’re in a technique of addressing these issues,” stated Zhao Weidong, Beijing Video games spokesperson.

“We’re addressing lots of the issues. On meals for instance we now have taken the choice that the athlete (Frenzel) can order meals from the menu of our Olympic (athletes’) village and get meals delivered to that isolation facility.”

(Extra reporting by Ilze Filks in Beijing; Enhancing by Shri Navaratnam)