As of Thursday and also according to the current position of the Austrian Olympic Committee, this would be equivalent to a waiver of the Olympics. Because the ÖOC only wants to take vaccinated athletes to China. Riegler, who will be at the start of the last parallel World Cup giant slalom on the Simonhöhe in Carinthia from Friday, is likely to enter the country as a recovered person under certain conditions from the point of view of the Chinese authorities, since the 2G rule applies. However, the Olympic organizers require unvaccinated Olympic participants to quarantine for 21 days upon arrival in Beijing. This is what the Swiss snowboarder Patrizia Kummer does, for example.
“The ÖOC Board of Directors has Claudia Riegler until 23.1. requires an antibody test and partial vaccination. Claudia Riegler has already informed us that she will not comply with these requirements. The Austrian Olympic Committee regrets this decision,” said ÖOC Secretary General Peter Mennel on Thursday. On the advice of the medical advisors, the Presidium had already committed itself several months ago to “only considering vaccinated people for participation in Beijing for reasons of safety and health of the delegation members”.
Mennel added: “We are currently assuming that without exception vaccinated athletes and coaches will be proposed by the sports associations for the Olympic Team Austria. We are currently counting on around 105 active members. The official nomination will take place on January 24 in Vienna.”
The sports director in the ÖSV for snowboarding, Christian Galler, who was addressed by the APA – Austria Press Agency on Thursday, apparently still sees possibilities. “The status is that the Chinese authorities have issued an entry permit, even in an unvaccinated state without quarantine as a recovered person. The second story is that every effort is being made on our part that we can name her, if of course she then meets the requirements accordingly.
This currently requires an antibody test and a partial vaccination. “Part one is planned for Monday and the rest at a later date, i.e. between February 22nd and 24th. she would then have to do the vaccination.”
Galler confirmed that Riegler cannot currently imagine vaccination. “That’s the current status, it doesn’t feel good for her, that’s her private decision and she’s keeping it open for a relatively long time.” From his point of view, the reaction of the ÖOC must also be seen “what comes out overall with compulsory vaccination and similar things”. However, the fundamental decision of the ÖOC will be respected.
There will be no further persuasion in the direction of Claudia Riegler when it comes to vaccination. “We’ve talked enough already, we respect every opinion: if she feels it’s good and the performance is right, she’ll know for herself what to do.” (APA)
