Following the serious crash of the four-man bobsleigh in Altenberg, the Swiss bobsleigh association Swiss Sliding is demanding that the IBSF establish a safety commission and appoint a safety delegate. "The greatest possible protection of the athletes must have the highest priority for a world federation of a racing sport," said Swiss Sliding President Sepp Kubli in a press release on Monday.
He is calling for independent experts from various fields such as technology, material, track construction and medicine as well as an athlete representative and a female athlete representative to be appointed to this committee. There should also be a permanent delegate for safety issues on site. "It is not enough for us to be told that we are being taken care of," said Kubli and suggested a person who is competent in all areas, namely the former world-class pilot, material expert and TV expert Christian Reich.
According to the Swiss, who had to fear for the life of the seriously injured push athlete Sandro Michels for a long time after the serious training crash in Altenberg on February 13, the safety risks that led to the accident in Altenberg "have been known for years without the IBSF having taken sufficient measures". The requested safety commission is to be decided at the annual congress of the world federation in Lake Placid in June.
