Hospital continues to appeal: Is the Cycling World Championship in Zurich in danger of becoming a fiasco?

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It’s a long time ago. The last World Cycling Championships took place in Zurich in 1946. But the wait will soon be over! The cycling elite will be back in the city of Limmat from September 21 to 29, 2024. But: the anticipation is still limited. To ensure that this changes, those responsible invited people to a media conference on Thursday. The idea was to light the fuse of euphoria under the motto “One Year To Go”. “The hands of the clocks turn as fast as the wheels of the best cyclists and paracyclists in the world,” the report said.

Just one day before the ‘media event’, as the invitation stated, the press conference was canceled. “It will be postponed to a later date,” read one line. Even more surprising was the reason for the rejection: there was none. “It will remain that way,” says Andreas Herren when asked. The World Cup communications officer points out that they will comment later. It is not yet clear when.

Hospitals have many unanswered questions

All this raises questions. Finally, district president Mario Fehr and municipal councilor Filippo Leutenegger, two heavyweights in Zurich politics, also spoke. The point of contention is the route of the 53 races, which also runs through the middle of the city and ends at Sechseläutenplatz. Streets where there is currently a lot of traffic will be closed from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m., including on weekdays. Hundreds of parking spaces must also be temporarily removed.

Initially, the city of Zurich received dozens of appeals; 68 were still pending. Almost all of them were rejected and the city council approved a number of objections. In addition to traders, the Zurich Children’s Hospital, the Hirslanden Clinic and the Zollikerberg Hospital were particularly active in defending themselves. Their concern is that the restrictions imposed by the Cycling World Championships could lead to problems in hospitals, especially with emergency access.

“The status is still the same”

The WK OK sat down with the institutions involved. Apparently it was hoped that the problems could be resolved quickly. “We are confident that we will have found or largely implemented solutions for all situations by the end of the summer holidays,” Herren said in the ‘Velojournal’ in mid-July.

And today? The summer holidays are long over and Herren says: “The situation is still the same.”

The children’s hospital continues to appeal

The children’s hospital confirms to Blick that it has continued its appeal against the city. Foundation board chairman Martin Vollenwyder, a former Zurich city councilor, speaks of a constructive dialogue with the organizers of the Football World Cup, but also says: “As a precaution, we are maintaining the call until all outstanding points have been resolved. Medical care for children and young people from the Canton of Zurich and throughout Switzerland who depend on the University Children’s Hospital of Zurich must be guaranteed.

Under its regulations, the UCI World Cycling Federation may revoke the right of a World Cup organizer to organize a World Cup. This if unforeseen circumstances endanger the organization of the World Cup. Does this danger exist in Zurich? No. At least not yet. However, the World Cup ship is still sailing in troubled waters.

Source : Blick