Sunday, December 5th, 2021
Because of the Olympic boycott
New DOSB boss takes on Baerbock
In an interview with the “taz”, the designated Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock raised the question of an Olympic boycott. The new DOSB President Thomas Weikert doesn’t like that at all. She “should just leave the church in the village,” he says after his election.
Thomas Weikert, the new President of the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB), has criticized the designated Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock for her statement about a possible boycott of the Olympic Winter Games in Beijing. “Ms. Baerbock should just leave the church in the village, I’ll say that very clearly,” said Weikert on the Saturday after his election: “A boycott has never helped anyone. That would be really unfair to the athletes who are now like that have prepared for a long time. “
Last week, in an interview with the “taz”, Greens boss Baerbock approached the boycott issue. “When I see how China’s leadership deals with tennis player Peng Shuai or with the arrested citizen journalist Zhang Zhan, we should of course also take a closer look at the Olympic Games. There are different ways for governments to deal with them in the coming weeks certainly to be discussed. “
According to Weikert, the DOSB will “position itself within our means” at the Winter Games (February 4th to 20th). At the press conference after the general meeting in Weimar on Saturday, the former table tennis world association boss himself clearly criticized the human rights situation in China. “Since 2008 (Summer Games in Beijing / d. Red.), Many have thought that the Olympics would improve something in the human rights situation. And the fact is: Nothing has improved. It has probably gotten worse, which is very regrettable,” said Weikert.
Weikert made a similar statement about the soccer World Cup in Qatar next year. “The World Cup has been awarded to Qatar. I don’t think that’s an ideal place either. You should react the same way as you did with China: Point out the injuries,” said the 60-year-old lawyer: “As far as I know, the Kafala system continues to exist, even if Nobody wants to admit it. The injuries are still there. ” In this case, too, Weikert doesn’t think much of a boycott: “A boycott has not helped anyone. And that’s why you shouldn’t boycott there either, but go there and try to change.”