Germany see 'improved' isolation conditions, others still struggle

BEIJING : Germany are satisfied with a swift improvement of isolation conditions for their three athletes who have tested positive for COVID-19 and are in quarantine at the Beijing Winter Olympics, team chief Dirk Schimmelpfennig said on Sunday.

But other athletes, including Finnish ice hockey player Marko Anttila, are still struggling with their own isolation quarters and the level of services provided by organisers.

Schimmelpfennig on Saturday had called conditions for triple Olympic gold medalist Nordic combined skier Eric Frenzel and two other German athletes "unacceptable", demanding a complete overhaul including bigger and cleaner rooms, a working internet connection, sports equipment and better food.

On Sunday Schimmelpfennig said organisers had acted quickly following a concerted effort by the team, the ski federation and the International Olympic Committee.

"We have succeeded since yesterday in achieving a marked improvement in conditions for the athletes," he told reporters.

"Now the athletes have a satisfying framework of conditions. They have bigger rooms now, working wifi, an exercise bike in the room so we have appropriate and satisfying conditions in a very difficult situation for the athletes," he said.

Apart from Frenzel, who has won six Olympic medals in total, Germany teammate Terence Weber as well as figure skater Nolan Seegert are also in quarantine, hoping to recover in time for their competitions.

But for Finland's Anttila some issues remain, mainly with regard to the quality of food on offer.

"He is not getting great food and he is a very big guy," said Finland ice hockey coach Jukka Jalonen. "He would like to have more energy and better food there as well. Because he doesn't know what's going on and