Coronavirus crisis strikes Paralympics: Ottobock embraces flexibility and fosters creativity

What makes a great Paralympics experience apart from athletes and enthusiastic spectators? Supporters, sponsors, partners, many people and unsung heroes who work in the background to ensure efficient operations and fair competition. A strong commitment and passion for the Paralympics have been an inherent part of Ottobock’s DNA for the past three decades. "We are proud to be part of the Paralympic movement and to raise social awareness about people with disabilities," explains Andrea Cremer, Project Manager Events & Sports Marketing. Her colleague Peter Franzel, Director Sports Marketing & Sponsoring adds: "The visibility and incredible athletic performance prompts a positive change in the way people with disabilities are perceived and how they perceive themselves."

Not surprisingly, the company from Duderstadt in Lower Saxony supports the most important and largest sporting event for para athletes not just by sponsoring athletes like Johannes Floors, but by also being a proactive partner onsite. For Tokyo 2020, the company planned to set up a fully equipped workshop in the Olympic Village in addition to mobile technical repair centers at training and competition venues. Regardless of the athletes' nationalities or the brand of their prostheses, orthoses, wheelchairs, or everyday assistive technologies, everyone was welcome to stop by to get free support. Experienced orthotists and prosthetists, wheelchair specialists and welders were scheduled to use their expertise and help with onsite repairs or maintenance. The company had even designed a waiting area stocked with water, coffee, and tea to create a comfortable space for the athletes while they wait for their sports equipment or assistive device to be repaired.

Ottobock planned to send 133 associates – mostly technicians – and three containers with 27 fully equipped workbenches and replacement parts to Tokyo. The company is already experienced in making this work. Ottobock has been supporting the Paralympics for more than 30 years. And this service was also available in Rio 2016.

Orthopedic technician Julian Napp participated in Brazil four years ago and was also scheduled to be onsite in Tokyo as head of the technical team at the workshop. Apart from being the repair coordinator, his tasks also include establishing the first contact with the athletes.

"As a technician, you try to quickly build a strong relationship. The athlete has to know he/she can trust you," says Napp. A conversation at eye level is thus very important in this setting. Peter Franzel knows this is the secret bond that makes Ottobock and the athletes so strong. After all, the technician depends on the athlete’s feedback. "People have developed close friendships over the years." Napp can also attest to this and knows that the workshop crew often shares in the excitement of the Games. "It is truly special if an athlete delivers a top performance with equipment that we repaired. And if they win a medal, the workshop is in full party mode."

Unfortunately, there won’t be a celebration in Tokyo in 2020 even though the preparations had already been in full swing. The workbenches had already been set up with tools and replacement parts, and are on their way to Tokyo. But health comes first. Yet the company appreciates that it didn’t take the IOC the originally slated four weeks to make its decision. "The new date allowed us to resume our planning process. We have informed our team and strive to have everyone who was scheduled to participate in 2020 to also join us in 2021," Peter Franzel explains. The plans of the Official Technical Service Partner of the Paralympics are now also delayed by one year. Professor Hans Georg Näder, owner and Chairman of the Board of Ottobock emphasizes that "at this time, it is crucial that we protect the well-being of the athletes, spectators and the global Paralympic Family."

The coronavirus pandemic has already changed operations at the company from Lower Saxony. Most of its employees worked from home during the lockdown and all meetings took place online. The unique situation didn’t prevent the employees from being creative. The Ottobock experts wasted no time and used their expertise to manufacture an array of useful items. New door openers, 3D-printed hygienic handles, community face masks, and plastic visors – the company from Duderstadt rapidly responded to the surge in demand for tools that minimize the risk from human contact.

Ottobock made a virtue of necessity in even more ways: The "MitarbeiterInnen nähen für MitarbeiterInnen" (Employees sewing masks for fellow employees) campaign had most of the Company’s apprentices get behind sewing machines and produce what is arguably the most essential item during this difficult time. The assistive technology provider also leverages flexibility in other areas: Ottobock teams up with physiotherapists and athletes to create digital workouts aimed at wearers of prosthetics and wheelchair users. It is also in the process of building a digital learning platform to enable employees to continue their education and training.

It’s impossible to predict when things will get back to normal and which changes might just be around forever. The medical technology company plans to master the remainder of this year with its usual professionalism. Before the Paralympics were supposed to take place, Ottobock also planned to lend its expertise to the CYBATHLON competition. However, this is not a sporting competition, but rather a more technically oriented event where a wide variety of developers try out their latest everyday prostheses that run mechatronically. The CYBATHLON is therefore considered a competition for technical assistance systems. The event has now been postponed and was tentatively rescheduled for September 19 - 20. But since nothing is set in stone, Duderstadt wants to wait and see but remain flexible.

Meanwhile, the company continues its work and logistics preparation for all postponed events. This also applies to the Paralympics. Nobody doubts that the Games will eventually take place. Orthopedic technician Julian Napp hopes to visit Tokyo, do some sightseeing and enjoy the special atmosphere onsite and says, "The athletes prepare four years for this moment and enjoy the magical atmosphere within the stadiums. The anticipation right before the Games start is palpable and very exciting." Whether it happens in 2020, 2021, or not until 2022, the head of the technical team looks forward to "plenty of emotional moments during the Games, a one-of-a-kind atmosphere and a great team in the workshop."