After a life-threatening crash: The Swiss accuse the World Bobsleigh Association of safety shortcomings

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The Swiss bobsleigh association Swiss Sliding took a few days to do it, but is now attacking the world association IBSF after the bobsleigh drama in Altenberg (D). The serious crash of the Swiss sled with the life-threatening injuries of pusher Sandro Michel (27) exposed serious organizational and communication shortcomings in the field of safety at the IBSF.

“The greatest possible protection of athletes must be the highest priority for a world racing association,” said Swiss Sliding boss Sepp Kubli. The Swiss are now calling on the IBSF to establish a safety committee with experts in various fields such as technology, materials, track construction and medicine, as well as athlete representatives. There should be a permanent security delegate at the World Cup. “It’s not enough that we can be sure we’re taking care of it,” Kubli says.

Ex-pilot Christian Reich on the committee?

For Swiss Sliding, the devastating crash, which might have cost the best Swiss pusher his career and thus forced the fastest pilot, Michael Vogt (26), to make a new start, was the last straw for Swiss Sliding. The association writes in its statement that the risks of an uncontrollable bobsleigh sliding back from the finish line have been known for years, especially in Altenberg.

Swiss Sliding also wants to push through the creation of the new safety committee at the World Congress in June with the help of other national associations. Kubli and Co. introduce former Swiss top pilot Christian Reich (56), who now works as a bobsleigh expert at SRF, as a member.

Source : Blick