Under The Spell Of The Corona Virus: 470 Sailors In China

Under The Spell Of The Corona Virus: 470 Sailors In China
Under The Spell Of The Corona Virus: 470 Sailors In China

Video: Under The Spell Of The Corona Virus: 470 Sailors In China

Video: Under The Spell Of The Corona Virus: 470 Sailors In China
Video: Hong Kong’s last authentic Chinese sailing junk struggles to stay afloat during Covid-19 pandemic 2024, March
Anonim
Team Divine / Klasen in China
Team Divine / Klasen in China

The 470 team Göttlich / Klasen during their stay at the competitive sports center in Haikou in China

The Berlin 470 sailors Daniel Göttlich and Linus Klasen had imagined their one-month intensive training at the Chinese performance center in Haikou to be a little different: The location chosen by the sailors for individual training at the beginning of the year has become a temporary trap due to the rapidly spreading corona virus. The athletes are only allowed to leave their accommodation once a day to train. The radius of movement is also regulated in the building itself, and it is mandatory to wear a face mask when leaving the accommodation. The German 470 crew only sees their own room, the room of the Chinese trainer, the fitness room and the canteen. The room at the base is cleaned independently, purchases by selected employees are disinfected. On site, the sailors pass on their temperature to the translator every morning. In addition, body temperature is measured when returning from sailing into the building.

Olympic sailing
Olympic sailing

Daniel Göttlich and Linus Klasen in action with the 470

The 19-year-old helmsman Daniel Göttlich from the Seglerhaus am Wannsee Association and his boat of the same age from the Potsdam Yacht Club have been in China since January 10th. Your return flight is scheduled for February 7th. The Germans came because the Chinese 470 coach invited them to sparring with his two teams that are in the top ten of the world rankings. "It was very attractive for us," says Daniel Göttlich, "because the local conditions are very similar to certain weather patterns that we expect in the Olympic qualification."

Team Divine / Klasen in China
Team Divine / Klasen in China

A training picture from the use in Chinese waters

The young Berliners train for a last-minute chance, but above all for the future. Neither the German 470 men nor the Finn sailors have succeeded in securing the nation's starting place for the Olympic regatt2020, without which an Olympic participation in these disciplines is not possible. Finn and 470 sailors will have one last opportunity to turn the tide at the World Cup in Genu in the spring, where the best European crew not yet qualified will be given a nation-wide starting place. Daniel Göttlich and Linus Klasen are there as a young team with prospects. So far, the two teams Simon Diesch / Julian Autenrieth (Württembergischer Yacht Club / Bavarian Yacht Club) and Malte Winkel / Matti Cipr (Schweriner Yacht Club / Plauer Watersport Club) have been leaders in Germany.

The Chinese town of Haikou, where Göttlich / Klasen train, is around 1,500 kilometers away from the city of Wuhan, where the corona virus was first detected and is most widespread. Nevertheless, strong protective measures by the Chinese authorities are also taking effect in Haikou, which affects the members of the perspective squad in the German Sailing Team during their stay at the competitive sports center. Mouthguards are also mandatory there because many sailors from the Chinese national team are there and nobody wants to risk illness six months before the Olympic Games. Only after taking it off, says Daniel Göttlich, can the face mask be removed when using it on the water. So far, the GER team has been able to carry out water training on 20 out of a total of 28 days. The Chinese Sailing Association decided to isolate the base about a week and a half after the arrival of the German sailors. It includes the regulation that neither sailors, trainers nor employees are allowed to leave the building for purposes other than sailing. The port is just a few steps away across the street.

Despite the excitement, Steuermann Göttlich draws a positive balance so far: "The Chinese were excellent hosts. The training is as effective as we imagined it to be. And it was always an interesting experience. We had a prime time here, but we are just delighted under these circumstances back to Berlin. So far everything looks as if we can start our journey home on February 7. Unfortunately, we have little choice but to hope that nothing will change. A health check has not yet been announced to us one is carried out is ultimately the responsibility of the German authorities."

Olympic sailing
Olympic sailing

Training for success in the 470 dinghy, which will only be sailed by mixed teams from the Olympic Games 2024: Daniel Göttlich and Linus Klasen from Berlin

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