The “Olympic ABC” (in German) with first impressions from the Games

The Olympic Games have begun, the first medals have been awarded, and our teams are mastering service at all six venues – 26 Olympic insights from A to Z. Claudia Metzner reports from Milan.

For me, the Olympic Games began at Munich Airport, at Gate 5. While it was still quite quiet two hours before the flight, the usual hustle and bustle gradually began. Among the "ordinary" passengers were journalists in ARD jackets, traveling to Milan to cover the Games, a couple on their way to the women's ice hockey match between Germany and Sweden, and athletes in Canadian training gear. Everyone had one thing in common (including me): the eager anticipation of the Winter Games in Italy.

Our deployment in Italy was already reported on in the MDR Thüringen Journal prior to the games. A film crew came to Zeulenroda in January for the kickoff event with the technical and organizational team. You can see the result here.

While the current Olympic Games are underway, it's no surprise that thoughts are already turning to the future: The Summer Games will take place in Los Angeles in two years. Project Manager for the Olympics, Jörg Ritzerfeld, along with the Milan team, made initial contact with Chief Medical Officer Dr. Casey Batten and Head of Medical Service Kerry Gordon on February 7th. The officials were very impressed by the wide range of products and asked numerous questions. IOC representative Marie-Elaine Grant also stopped by and clearly expressed her support for Bauerfeind at the Olympic Games: " You can't go without “ You can’t leave without them,” she said to Dr. Casey Batten and Kerry Gordon.

Daily communication is particularly important at these Olympic Games. Since all technicians and the organizing team are working at six venues in Italy and Zeulenroda, short daily digital meetings help to keep everyone informed about current developments across all locations.

Food: In Milan, lunch for workers in the Olympic Village is…well…okay. But after work, it's a treat for gourmets. Luisa from Bauerfeind Sports is always on the lookout for something particularly delicious in the displays of the many cafés. Her insider tip for your next trip to Italy, or to try at home: Sicilian cannoli . These are deep-fried pastries filled with things like ricotta, vanilla, cocoa, chocolate chips, or candied fruit.

Around 40 colleagues from 10 nations are working at the Olympic locations: Italy, Germany, Spain, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, France, China and the United Arab Emirates.

Those watching the games on TV should get particularly good pictures this time. More than 810 camera systems and 1,800 microphones are in use at the various venues to offer viewers of the eight sports and 16 disciplines spectacular perspectives – more than ever before at the Winter Olympics.

Francesca Lollobrigida is the Olympic champion in speed skating over 3000 meters. This makes not only many Italian hearts beat faster, but also many Bauerfeind hearts, because the 35-year-old is a brand ambassador for our subsidiary in Italy.

The German team is competing with 185 athletes – including 37 Olympic medalists. In Beijing 2022, the Germans finished second in the medal standings with 27 medals, behind Norway with 37. Perhaps that can be surpassed this year.

In the Olympic Village in Milan there are approximately 1,700 beds in total. Around 950 athletes from 41 nations live here, along with several hundred support staff. The village covers 38,000 square meters, the equivalent of 21 ice hockey rinks. Our service station, spanning over 100 square meters, is located right in the middle of it all. A unique atmosphere pervades the village: athletes in their national team uniforms take selfies in front of the rings, relax in deck chairs and soak up the sun, give interviews, or head off to meals and training. Volunteers and staff bustle between the various buildings – a constant flurry of activity.

Marie-Elaine Grant, the IOC's representative, is very impressed with the quality of our service and products, as she was at previous Olympic Games . In an email to Jörg Ritzerfeld after visiting our offices in Milan, she writes: "As always, your team was exceptionally helpful and courteous. The range of products and projects offered is outstanding – truly state-of-the-art and with a clear focus on top performance. (...) Your commitment to providing such a high-quality and comprehensive service deserves the highest recognition."

To ensure that someone is available for the athletes from early morning until evening, our teams rotate in shifts. In Milan, for example, colleagues work an early shift starting at 8 a.m. and a late shift starting at 1:30 p.m. 

Security checkpoints, similar to those at airports, are located at the entrance to the Olympic Village in Milan. Everyone wishing to enter the Olympic Village is checked daily.

Our teams watched the opening ceremony differently at each location: Team Livigno watched the athletes enter the Snow Park (from left), Team Cortina with Bauerfeind socks in front of the laptop and Team Milan (from left) in a sports bar.

The 25th Winter Olympic Games will be held in 2026 – with a first: For the first time in the history of the Olympic Games, two cities will serve as official hosts. These will be the third Winter Games held in Italy, following Cortina d'Ampezzo in 1956 and Turin in 2006.

Here you can find our brand film “Move with Bauerfeind”. It is part of the global brand campaign “Move with Bauerfeind – Because every move matters”. In the campaign video, bobsledders Laura Nolte and Deborah Levi explain what movement means to them in elite sports. The two will compete in the two-woman bobsled on February 20th and 21st in Cortina d'Ampezzo.