display

The German handball players noticed immediately after their arrival at Cairo airport that the debate about the meaning and purpose of a world championship is an annoying companion during the corona pandemic.

While they were still on the tarmac, they were picked up by a bus in which the first antigen tests were carried out.

After a 40-minute procedure and a previous four-hour flight, we went on to the team hotel in Giza.

"The travel day was exhausting, no question about it," said Axel Kromer, sports director of the German Handball Federation, on Wednesday morning.

Instead of answering sporting questions about the first German World Cup opponent Uruguay (Friday, 6 p.m., ARD) at a press round, the main focus was on the latest reports from the world of handball.

On Tuesday evening, the teams from the USA and the Czech Republic canceled their participation in the global test of strength after numerous players and coaches were infected with the Sars-CoV-2 virus.

While the advancing nations of North Macedonia and Switzerland could benefit from the abrupt waiver, the World Cup threatens to sink into corona chaos.

First take a fever: medical staff in protective suits welcomes the German national handball team and their officials at Cairo airport

Source: dpa / Sascha Klahn

“Of course, this exceeds our fears.

We received the bad news from the Czech Republic and the USA within eight hours, ”explained Kromer.

“We also know that individual cases have occurred in other nations that of course don't play our part.

As an argument for those who look at, eye and evaluate everything extremely critically, this is of course a confirmation.

We just have to work now to ensure that what we have been doing since October, namely guaranteeing the safety of our team and employees, continues at the most intensive level. "

"There is room for improvement"

display

That should be a Herculean task at the World Cup scheduled for January 31st.

After arriving at the hotel, Kromer also had to discover some grievances.

"We noticed a lot of things that we immediately discussed with the world association IHF and the organizing committee, because we still have to readjust a few things in the early hours," says the sports director: "We have the feeling that the hotel complex offers more opportunities to To achieve separation at meals.

So that the teams don't completely meet at meals.

We are working hard to open even more rooms in order to further minimize the risk. ”In addition, there are some employees in the hotel, the“ Marriott Mena House ”, who do not always wear the face mask correctly.

“There is room for improvement,” explained Kromer.

DHB sports director Axel Kromer

Source: dpa

In total, players and coaches from eight nations are housed in the hotel complex in Giza.

In addition to the German team and their entourage, Hungary, Uruguay, Cape Verde, Norway, France, Austria and the Swiss team that is now arriving also live in the five-star accommodation.

“We have to work to ensure that everything goes as we imagine it,” warned Kromer.

“We cannot influence what happens outside of our hotel.

I don't know the exact reasons for the things that have now happened in Kolding near the USA or the Czech Republic. "

display

The Germans had to find out how quickly the virus can spread within a squad at the European Championship qualifiers in November.

At that time, four players fell ill with Corona, including goalkeeper Johannes Bitter.

“We suspect that the outbreak in our country in November, which took place in the team at the time, resulted from the fact that for some reason the virus was carried into the event.

Say that some team member was already infected before the measure started, ”Kromer explained now.

“That's why we have isolation among our players from December 28th.

initiated in order not to have this risk.

Of course, none of this was common practice everywhere.

What is presented are regular tests.

But of course we all know that there is a risk that, despite negative tests, a virus is already dormant in a body, ”said the sports director.

"That's why there will certainly be an increased risk in the next few days, but when the event is running and the bubble is closed, it will decrease from day to day."

Moustafa's prestige project

The so-called bubble concept was one of the prerequisites for holding the controversial tournament.

The World Cup in his home country is considered a prestige project by the Egyptian world association president Hassan Moustafa.

Despite some massive opposition, the 76-year-old has done everything to ensure that the finals can take place with 32 teams for the first time.

display

At first Moustafa even wanted to let spectators into the halls, only after a protest by many professionals did he and the organizers refrain from doing so.

Nevertheless, the corona-related cancellations by two teams before the opening game on Wednesday evening between Egypt and Chile (6 p.m.) show how fragile the tournament is.

There should also be seven positive cases in the German preliminary round opponent Cape Verde.

That's why DHB functionary Kromer expressed a great wish on Wednesday morning: "We hope that the many bad news that we receive from all corners of the world will finally come to an end."

Source: WORLD infographic