The German federal government is keeping its fingers crossed for the national Olympic team as the Winter Games officially open on Friday. Deputy Government Spokesperson Steffen Meyer told the dts news agency: “We wish the athletes good luck, but also experiences that are likely once‑in‑a‑lifetime-experiences that not many people get to have during their lives”. He added that the government is very much looking forward to the competition.

Meyer described the Chancellor as “sports‑enthusiastic, perhaps even sports‑obsessed”. He noted that the Chancellor sometimes secretly checks sports scores during meetings, especially for Borussia Dortmund matches and handball games. “He will certainly do the same for the Olympic Games” said Meyer.