Increased safety in bobsleigh: It’s not enough to just duck your head

"We are experts in passenger safety in cars and can apply these principles to bobsleigh. In terms of safety, today's bobsleighs are comparable to convertibles from the 1960s. That’s why we are working with the BSD to develop a comprehensive safety concept. This includes head protection, measures to keep athletes inside the sled during a crash, the ability to brake the bobsled, and improvements to protective clothing and helmets," explains Carsten Reinkemeyer, Head of Safety Research at AZT.

As a first step, the Allianz Safety Sled has been in use since January of this year to analyze the increasingly demanding track conditions of bobsleigh tracks worldwide. 

The results were very well received by pilots and associations and were already used in races last season. In a second step, these findings are now being used to develop initial concepts and a prototype of the Allianz Safety Sled, which is currently being discussed with the IBSF's sports and equipment commissions. The focus is currently on two key issues: head protection and keeping athletes safe in the bobsleigh.

A new safety compartment in the bobsleigh is designed to prevent direct impact on the occupants. It ensures a safe space for athletes. Similar to a convertible, where the windshield frame and rear roll bar create a safety zone without a roof structure, the open design of the bobsleigh requires a front and rear structure that can keep collision forces away from the athletes. To this end, a new feature in the bobsleigh is the Head Impact Protector (HIP) at the front of the bob, which protects the driver's head. Additional protection for the push athletes is provided by raised push bars at the rear that create an extra safety space for all occupants. 

“The head protection system had to be designed for easy integration into existing bobsleds, making it practical for all international teams. Therefore, the team developed a mostly standard design. In addition, the athletes’ mobility must not be impeded during the time-critical entry into the bobsled,” says Reinkemeyer.

This development work is being carried out by the Institute for Research and Development of Sports Equipment (FES) in Berlin, which traditionally manufactures the bobsleds for the BSD. Therefore, the institute is ideally positioned to contribute its expertise on bobsled structural requirements.

The concept for improved head protection was presented today at the Allianz Center for Technology using a prototype model. It now needs to be structurally engineered. The design changes to the rear section and the measures to protect athletes in the bobsleigh are currently being coordinated with the athletes and experts from the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF). Only the combination of all safety measures will meet the requirements for the best possible protection of athletes. 

“We are proud to be working with Allianz on this project to improve the safety of athletes,” says Thomas Schwab, CEO of the BSD. "Bobsleigh can be compared to the Formula 1 of winter sports, and as the fastest winter sport, the dangers remain real. While successful work has been done on the safety of the tracks, it is now time to optimize the safety of the bobsleigh itself. In motor racing, these two areas have always progressed hand in hand. Through our cooperation with Allianz and the experts at the IBSF, we are combining our experience with the expertise of the Allianz Center for Technology. This cooperation represents a major step forward for bobsleigh in terms of safety. Our goal is to protect our athletes and ensure that performance never comes at the expense of safety."  

“Bobsleigh is a very complex sport and many factors contribute to its safety. Thanks to the BSD’s initiative, we now have a team with Allianz that has the highest level of expertise and experience, which gives us new insights into our sport. We are delighted to have this cooperation with a global player like Allianz,” says IBSF President, Ivo Ferriani.

As an insurer, Allianz stands for prevention and safety. As the Insurance Partner of the Olympic and Paralympic Movements, it was important for Allianz to present the improvements before the start of the Winter Games in Milano-Cortina. 

"Together with the BSD and the IBSF, we want to establish a global safety standard in bobsleigh to prevent serious injuries to athletes. This allows us to expand our brand partnership with the expertise of our Allianz Center for Technology, providing tangible support for this fast-paced sport. Through this partnership, we are co-creating a new safety framework in an Olympic winter sport," says Eike Bürgel, Global Head of Olympic & Paralympic Program at Allianz SE. 

Allianz is a strategic partner of the Olympic and Paralympic Movements and has contributed to the successful organization of Paris 2024. Allianz will also be closely involved in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano-Cortina. For many years, it has also been a partner of FC Bayern and a sponsor of the men's and women's teams. In addition to these global partnerships, Allianz supports numerous local clubs in Germany, ranging from Alba Berlin Women's Basketball to the Mannheim Hockey Club. The focus here is particularly on work with children and young people. Allianz also promotes sports and exercise among young people through the MoveNow initiative.

Further press releases from Allianz Versicherungs-AG can be found on their website News | Allianz.