Artikel vom: 30.12.2020
Like a sword of Damocles the cancellation hovered over the 48th edition of the Berlin Ice Speedway, scheduled for the beginning of March. After an extraordinary (online) board meeting on December 29th exactly that decision had been made unanimously.
“With a heavy heart we finally decided to let the preparatory activities rest and and to cancel the Ice Speedway World Championship and German Championship in Berlin which was planned for March 4th to 7th”, explains Olaf Ehrke, 1st Chairman of the Eisspeedwayunion Berlin (ESU). Furthermore he explains: “During the christmas holidays, we tried again to contact the responsible authorities, but unfortunately until today we did not received any answer to our 53-page hygiene concept submitted in October - not even a confirmation of receipt. We even appeared personally serval times and were only advised to the respective non-jurisdiction each time. That was extremely frustrating."
Since January 1st various contracts with service providers and partners would have taken effect, you pulled the rip cord. "We have towards the club, its members and everyone involved also a great financial responsibility, so there was no alternative decision, as it has been made now, ”adds Bernd Sagert, 2nd chairman of the ESU and race director at the same time.
And further: “From the January 1st various contractual penalties would have been due. This risk we cannot and we don't want to enter. From the world motorcycle federation FIM, we only received an inquiry in the last three months whether we would host another World Championship. We confirmed that in October and under the scenarios conceivable at the time affirmed. Understandably, contact has been very limited since then. But you have to bear in mind that the FIM, which is responsible for all motorcycle series, currently has a whole lot of problems. As it is now in Berlin, we can't even let the construction team and the sports attendants work halfway normally. Not to mention the spectators. That's also one of the reasons why we still have not started ticket sales yet. Our club's own Corona-compliant online ticketing system has been ready for use since a long time ago. On behalf of the board of directors I would like to take this opportunity to thank to these employees very much.
Since the ESU, unlike the European Championship race in Poland mid-December, has not such as big sponsors available and can’t expect much support by the Ministry of Sport, there won't be Ice Speedway in Berlin in 2021. “But we are still full of energy and will soon start with the preparations for March 2022. We are in good spirits, to run the 48th Ice Speedway at the Horst-Dohm-Eisstadion in Berlin-Wilmersdorf with a World Championship in in cooperation with the FIM and a German Championship with the DMSB", so Bernd Sagert again.