Two weeks of biathlon start in Nové Město na Moravě. “A success? When no one gets down with Covid-19”, says Jiří Hamza
“We organize biathlon events for the spectators, so we miss them a lot,” says Jiří Hamza, the President of Organizing Committee, and looks sadly around to see the empty stands of the Vysočina Arena. The pandemic situation with COVID-19 did not allow people in the stands and around the track once again, just like last year. The sadder it is as the schedule of the 8th and 9th round of the Biathlon World Cup is packed with eight individual races and four relay competitions!
No place for fear
Jiří Hamza is sorry that many people in Nové Město na Moravě and the surrounding towns and villages are afraid of the fact that biathlon races are taking place. “I would like to assure everyone that biathlon is strict to itself. We had set strict rules even before the season started, and the bubble we thus created in World Cup and IBU Cup has been functional. All races from the international IBU calendar took place as planned,” explains the man, who is also a vice-president of the International Biathlon Union. All athletes, coaches and other members of teams take Covid-19 PCR tests every three days. “It is actually much more likely that a biathlete would get infected here in the Czech Republic than that they would infect anyone here in the Vysočina region.”
Everyone’s own responsibility
The Czech Republic is not in a good situation as far as the epidemic of COVID-19 is concerned. This is obvious in numbers published by the media, and the degree of stress that is growing constantly. Jiří Hamza is convinced that the Czechs themselves are to blame for these problems. “I do not want to be cheap but I do see two mistakes at least. We did not let experts deal with the situation, and we turned Covid-19 into a political issue. The second mistake is rooted in our national characteristics, the way we do things: we look at others and point out their mistakes rather than dealing with what is our own responsibility. We have to forget about getting around any regulations in force. We are in a vicious circle that can be resolved by adherence to strict rules, and vaccination, as I hope.”
Event organisation and tests
From the perspective of organizers, the situation is more favourable now. “The largest agenda is related to fans as around 30 thousand of them would come to see the races every day, and every single one of them needed a service. Today, the number is a few hundred people…” A few hundred people who are tested regularly, we need to say. “Tests take place regularly in the stadium area, at accreditation point, and in hotels, too,” Jiří Hamza added.
Will the Czech team improve?
What would be an achievement in those two weeks in the Vysočina Aréna? “Well, when no one gets infected – individual teams, organizers or official jurors, that’s for sure!“ And how about the sporting aspect? „Honestly, this season is not the best by the national team. It will be dealt with after the season ends. Of course, Markéta Davidová is an exception, she has found her stable spot among the world’s best. However, I would like to see other girls getting some progress, too! I also believe that Martin Krčmář will race better; actually, he is stronger every day after having recovered from being sick.“
Talented youngsters make us happy
Jiří Hamza is thrilled by results of Czech juniors at the World Championships in Obertilliach. “I believe that they have not said the final word. Maybe they will even start here in the 9th round of the World Cup!”
A good-bye to a legend
The two weeks at NMNM will have a rather nostalgic ending. Ondřej Moravec (36), the owner of nine medals from the Winter Olympics and World Championships and historically the best Czech male biathlete, has decided to end his racing career. “Ondřej is a role model as far as diligence, dutifulness, devotion and professionalism are concerned. The job he has done for the sport is immense. He has become a living legend,” Jiří Hamza says about the native of Letohrad.
Author: Tomáš Hermann
Photo: Petr Slavík
