Monoskier Anna-Lena Forster and para-ice hockey player Jörg Wedde are the German flag bearers at the Paralympic Winter Games in Milan and Cortina. However, they will not appear at the opening ceremony.
One day before the official opening of the 14th Paralympic Winter Games in Milan and Cortina, the German Disabled Sports Association (DBS) named its flag-bearer duo in Anna-Lena Forster and Jörg Wedde.
Monoskier Forster received this honor four years ago at the Winter Games in Beijing. The 60-year-old para ice hockey player Wedde succeeds Martin Fleig (para biathlon). At the press conference in the German House, Forster spoke of a “great surprise. I didn’t expect to receive this honor again.“
Forster and Wedde do not arrive in Verona
However, the German flag-bearer duo will not appear at the opening ceremony of the Paralympics on Friday evening (7:50 p.m. in the Sportschau live stream) in the Amphitheater in Verona, but will only be seen in pre-recorded videos.
On the 50th anniversary of the Winter Games for athletes with disabilities, no nation will invade with athletes. The aim is “To ensure consistency between delegations“, argued the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), also with a view to the long travel times between the competition locations Milan, Cortina and Tesero as well as Verona.
DBS remains Opening ceremony remote
In protest against the admission of Russian and Belarusian athletes under their own flag, several countries – including Germany – announced that they would not take part in the march or even stay away from the celebration altogether. The German flag – like those of the other nations – will be carried into the arena by volunteers, while video clips from the Paralympic villages in Italy will be played.
Wedde therefore felt a bit melancholy. “The process was already known in advance. We knew that we would miss running into the stadium. But we’re here to play the games. I see it with both a crying and a laughing eye“, said the Hanoverian.
concept of Opening ceremony in criticism
In contrast to the Winter Olympics, only a maximum of two athletes and their supervisors were planned for the opening ceremony, which had already caused criticism in advance. DBS Honorary President Friedhelm Julius Beuchel spoke to the SID of a “Opening ceremony, which the organizers have removed from all the criteria of a normal opening ceremony.“
There were also critical tones from the athletes due to the participation restrictions. “This is absolute shit“, said Wedde: “I really can’t understand it, I don’t know who came up with such an idea.“Ice hockey teammate Simon Kunst seconded:”I doubt that this would also be the case in pedestrian sports.“
Forster, who still has fond memories of the huge opening ceremony in Beijing four years ago, said that the athletes “Special“is taken.”I saw how they solved it at the Olympics. As an athlete you ask yourself why this isn’t possible at the Paralympics.“
Forster can become the face of the games
Forster, who was born with a shortened right thigh and an undeveloped lower leg and foot on the left side, is Germany’s great hope for a medal at the Winter Games. The 30-year-old from Radolfzell is taking part in her fourth Paralympics in Italy and has what it takes to become the top star of the games. Forster will compete in Cortina five times – each time she is among the favorites. She had already won gold twice in Pyeongchang in 2018 and Beijing in 2022.
At 60, Wedde is the oldest athlete in the German team. He was one of only four players to take part in the German ice hockey team’s last Paralympics 20 years ago in Turin. At the age of twelve he lost both legs in a train accident and spent a long time searching in vain for a suitable opportunity in sports for the disabled. He only came to Para ice hockey at the age of 37 – and has now been a top performer for the German team for more than two decades.
