Politicization of the Non-politicizable: The Collapse of the Ice Skating Rink in Bad Reichenhall on 2 January 2006
AbstractAfter heavy snowfall, the skating rink of the city of Bad Reichenhall collapsed on 2 January 2006. Fifteen people, twelve children between the age of 7 and 15 and three mothers, were killed by the falling debris of the roof, 34 people were injured. Court trials came to the conclusion that the City of Bad Reichenhall, over a long period of time, had seriously neglected the maintenance of the hall despite clear indication of water ingress and related weak points in the roof structure. The Lord Mayor admitted before court to have purposefully obstructed the decision of the municipal parliament to renovate the hall since he had intended to have the hall dismantled anyway and to build a modern pastime and wellness center instead.