ÖTV sports director Jürgen Melzer - "Tragedy that the halls will stay until Easter"
ÖTV sports director Jürgen Melzer has no understanding that amateur athletes are not given at least the chance to be able to play in the hall by "free testing".
by tennisnet.com
last edit: Feb 18, 2021, 07:50 am
Sports director Jürgen Melzer is quoted as saying in a broadcast by the Austrian Tennis Association: "I don't see the danger. In a shop, people have to have 20 square meters available." And a tennis court is much bigger. ”The fact is, however, that the Austrian federal government has not promised any easing for popular sport until Easter. And that although the president of the association, Magnus Brunner, is part of this federal government. that one could take steps towards opening up soon, did not want to give a specific timetable.
Is that enough for around 400,000 tennis players in Austria? And the hall owners are slowly running out of air, as some representatives complained in a report on ServusTV a few days ago. Another problem is that government compensation does not affect subscription hours, which were the main business in October and November. Black flags have already been hoisted in front of tennis halls, there is a risk that many companies in the industry will not survive the crisis. Raimund Stefanits, himself a hall operator and former ÖTV Vice President, complained about the same thing in an interview with tennisnet in January.
Jürgen Melzer in any case lacks the understanding that no creative solutions can be found. "Children who tested negative in school in the morning are not allowed to play tennis against each other in the afternoon. That's kind of absurd. So: test it - and off you go!"