“The nomination alone is a huge honor and fills me with pride” / Fans and athletes can vote until February 4th / Pechstein, Frenzel, Geisenberger and Rebensburg also nominated
Great honor for German ice hockey and Christian Ehrhoff: The national defender was proposed today by the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) as one of the flag bearer candidates for the opening ceremony at the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang (February 09th - 25th, 2018). In addition to Ehrhoff, Claudia Pechstein (speed skating), Eric Frenzel (Nordic combined), Natalie Geisenberger (tobogganing) and Viktoria Rebensburg (alpine skiing) are also available.
“I didn't expect that at all. I was surprised and pleased at the same time when I found out about it. It is a huge honor to be included in this group of candidates alongside such top athletes. The nomination alone fills me with great pride,” said Ehrhoff.
For the second time after the Olympic Games in Rio 2016, a joint vote by sports fans and athletes will decide who will carry the German flag at the Winter Games in Pyeongchang. The Olympic team's vote counts for 50 percent. The public vote will take place until February 4 (23.59:XNUMX p.m./CET) together with the DOSB media partners ARD, ZDF, Eurosport and Bild.
Click here to vote: www.teamdeutschland.de
After the election, the votes of both groups are counted and the percentages are added. Whoever achieves the highest percentage becomes the standard bearer. Before the 2016 Olympic Games, the delegation management always decided which athlete would receive this honor.
“That would be sensational”
Interview with Christian Ehrhoff about his nomination as one of the five flag bearer candidates at the Olympic Games
Christian Ehrhoff didn't expect that. The German national defender was proposed by the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) as one of the German flag bearer candidates for the opening ceremony at the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang (February 09th - 25th, 2018). The former NHL star and three-time Olympic participant speaks in an interview about the surprising news and the anticipation of the games in South Korea.
Christian, you've experienced a lot in your career, not much can blow you away after such a long time as a professional. And yet you seem very surprised to be nominated as one of the five standard-bearer candidates.
You could say so. Marco Sturm only officially informed us on Tuesday who made it into the 25 squad. I was also with them Kölner Haien traveling in Nuremberg and Munich. I haven't really thought about the coming weeks yet. When I received a message from on Friday after the match in Munich DEBWhen I read a message on my cell phone from sports director Stefan Schaidnagel asking me to call me back, I contacted him and that's where I found out about it.
You must have been happy.
Naturally. Regardless of who the five of us end up being, just being nominated is a great feeling and a huge honor. Not just for me, but for the entire sport of ice hockey. It's a great recognition. The Olympic Games in themselves are something special and the ultimate for every athlete. If you then have the chance to represent your nation, your country, your team or all German athletes with the flag into the arena, then that of course tops it all off.
You are the most experienced German player with three participations already – what makes the Olympic Games so fascinating for you?
It's everything around it. You meet athletes from different sports, from different countries, all representing their nation. It's fascinating to exchange experiences with them. Every athlete has their own story to tell. You can also be there live at many other events, get a better feel for different sports and get excited about completely different things. It's a unique atmosphere in great company.
Your most beautiful Olympic Games?
I have to mention Salt Lake City 2002 and Vancouver 2010. In 2002 I was just 19 years old and I was just walking through the village with my eyes wide open because all my idols and stars were walking around there (laughs). In 2010 I played for the Canucks in Vancouver and I know that the Canadians are completely crazy about ice hockey. You can compare this with a World Cup in Germany.
Hand on heart – how much hope do you have that you will really become the first German ice hockey player in history to carry the German flag into the arena at the opening ceremony?
I'd be lying if I didn't have high hopes. That would be sensational. But of course I also wish it to everyone else. Everyone deserves it, perhaps even many more athletes than those mentioned. We are one nation and we are all proud to represent our country. So whoever it is, I will definitely be happy for everyone.