Next week, the Prague Water Slalom Championships will have to do without representatives of one of the great powers, Germany.
The local association decided not to send competitors to the Czech Republic after the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs included Prague on the list of risk areas on Wednesday due to the unfavorable epidemic situation.
“We are following the coaching council’s recommendation not to travel to regions warned by the Foreign Ministry,” Klaus Pohlen, the federal coach of canoeists, told DPA.
“We feel responsible for the health of our athletes and all other actors,” he added.
According to the information of the Czech organizers, it also played a role that in this situation German water slalom skiers are not allowed to travel to Prague by their obligations as employees of the army and police. “We are sorry, but we will not do anything about it,” said the director of the organizing committee Jiří Rohan.
German slalom skiers are among the most successful in the world. At the last European Championships, they won five medals, most of all, although no gold. Canoeist Andrea Herzogová was to come to Prague as the reigning world champion.
It was previously clear that water slalom skiers from Great Britain, which generally does not send its athletes to top events, nor Slovaks will arrive in Prague. “In 2018, we had 27 states and now there are 21 when the Germans have fled,” Rohan said.
European medals are to be fought for on the artificial canal in Troja from 18 to 20 September, and due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the championship will take place without spectators. Only accredited persons, such as competitors, escorts, organizers and media, VIP guests, contractual partners and other invited people, should have access to the complex.
Recently, however, the Czech Republic has seen an accelerated growth in the number of coronavirus infections and Prague is one of the most affected regions.
About a dozen expeditions are already in Prague, other organizers expect on Friday and Saturday. Official training will start on Sunday. Five countries would be enough to recognize the European Championships as an official championship.
“I would also like to hold the European Championships so that everyone is here. On the other hand, if I turn it around, then if there are twenty countries, it is good for the current situation. We are not in the phase of interrupting it,” Rohan assured. .
– .
