Swiss Bobsleigh Federation calls for safety commission

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.

Pusher Michel suffered serious injuries to his chest and pelvic area when his world-class pilot Michael Vogt fell. The 210-kilogram sled with three crew members weighing a good hundred kilograms had slid uncontrollably back into the track from the uphill finish curve and hit the lying Michel, who had been thrown out, with full force.

Michel has since been brought back to Switzerland after three operations. Pilot Vogt, who was unconscious himself and barely remembered, would like to visit his pusher in the next few days. "Fortunately, I was allowed to talk to him on the phone, he was still relatively high on painkillers. It did me personally good that he is doing well, that the worst was prevented," said Vogt.