The 48-year-old from Salzburg, who survived a Covid 19 infection at the end of December, does not currently want to have any vaccinations. As of Thursday and also according to the current position of the Austrian Olympic Committee, this would be tantamount to an Olympic waiver. Because the ÖOC only wants to take vaccinated athletes to China.
Riegler, who will start the last parallel World Cup giant slalom on the Simonhöhe in Carinthia from Friday, is likely to enter the country as recovered under certain conditions from the perspective of the Chinese authorities, as 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 Presidium has asked Claudia Riegler to have an antibody test and a partial vaccination by January 23rd. 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 announced on Thursday. Several months ago, on the advice of the medical advisors, the Presidium announced that it would “only consider vaccinated persons for participation in Beijing for reasons of the safety and health of the delegation members”.
Mennel added: “We are currently assuming that all vaccinated athletes and supervisors will be proposed by the sports associations for the Olympic Team Austria. We are currently expecting around 105 athletes. The official nomination will take place on January 24th 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 opportunities. “The current status is that the Chinese authorities have issued an entry permit, even in an unvaccinated state without quarantine as convalescents. The second story is that every effort is made on our part to name them, if of course they are accordingly meets the requirements. “
This currently requires an antibody test and a partial vaccination. “Part one is planned for Monday and the rest of the time at a later point in time, i.e. between January 22nd and 24th, she would have to have the vaccination.”
Galler confirmed that Riegler cannot currently imagine a vaccination. “That is the current state that it doesn’t feel good for her, that is her private decision and she keeps it open for a relatively long time.” In order to react by the ÖOC, from his point of view, one would also have to wait “what comes out in total with vaccination and similar things”. The fundamental decision of the ÖOC will be respected.
There will be no further work to convince Claudia Riegler when it comes to vaccination. “We have already spoken enough, we respect every opinion: if she has the feeling that it is good and the performance is right, she will know what to do herself.”
Source: Nachrichten
