The Olympic Games are just around the corner. From Saturday, the national players will prepare together in Füssen for the superlative tournament in Pyeongchang, South Korea. As part of the training camp, the German selection will test against Switzerland again in Kloten (February 6.2, 18.30:7.2 p.m.). The team then travels (February XNUMX) from Munich towards Seoul. National coach Marco Sturm was available for an interview.
Marco Sturm, it starts in two days and the team meets for the first time before the Olympic Games. Is it tingling yet?
Slowly now. There were still a lot of organizational things to do in the last few weeks. During this time, people didn't think about it that much. But by the time we meet on Saturday at the latest, you'll definitely feel a certain amount of anticipation. Nevertheless, we will have to prepare well.
What are the plans for the next few days?
We'll meet on Saturday for lunch at Munich airport, from there we'll drive to Füssen, but we won't train yet. Most of the boys still have games on Friday, so it's important that they recover first. We'll be on the ice twice on Sunday. Ultimately, we have to use the short time to quickly internalize our system.
Will the team take part in the opening ceremony?
Yes. We will all be there as the schedule allows it and we don't have to play for the first time until a few days later. But there are sports and athletes who hold their first competitions the next day. They usually have to forego the opening ceremony, which is a shame.
Maybe there will be a flag bearer from ice hockey there too...
(laughs). Yes, that would be sensational. Of course we all keep our fingers crossed for Christian Ehrhoff. That would be enormously important for German ice hockey.