Ski World Cup during pandemic – Lauberhorn boss Urs Näpflin: “Heavenly sad without spectators” – News

The Alpine Skiing World Cup and Ski Jumping events will be held without spectators this winter due to Corona. Swiss Ski and the organizers have agreed on this. Thus they have confirmed what was suspected: no fan will be admitted to the alpine races in Adelboden, Crans-Montana, Lenzerheide, St. Moritz and Wengen or to the ski jumping in Engelberg.

The chairman of the organizing committee for the Lauberhorn races in Wengen in the background.

Urs Näpflin

OK President Lauberhorn Race in Wengen

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Urs Näpflin is the president of Lauberhorn International Races. He has been with Wengen for many years, long as race director until he took over as OC President from Viktor Gertsch in 2014. Lauberhorn’s race organization thus passed into the hands of the family for the first time in his life. history.

Näpflin was also a ski racer.

SRF News: Urs Näpflin, a World Cup race without spectators, without the hype by the track, isn’t that sad

Urs Näpflin: Yes, that is very sad. I can’t imagine it when you think of the last few years with over 60,000 viewers a day, with Beat Feuz as the winner. A festival of ski, thrills, atmosphere in Wengen and now the races should take place without spectators. That makes my heart spin in my chest.

Here’s what the organizers of the Engelberg Ski Jumping World Cup have to say

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No grandstands, no festival tents at Engelberg Ski Jumping – The Engelberg World Cup Ski Jumping event will also be held without an on-site crowd. Of course, one regrets this, says Beat Christen, OC media spokesperson, but “safety and health are the top priority. That is why it is the only correct decision. “

Still, there is one main reason to jump: “Athletes train all year long. It would be a mistake to take away the foundation from their work. “Also, if it was canceled, the whole World Cup system would have been broken, says Christen.

Engelberg does not anticipate any major financial damage. Income has been lost, but many expenses are also eliminated, for example for the construction of the stands.

The organizers, including you and Swiss Ski, have agreed on this. Why are spectators possible in football and ice hockey, but not in the Ski World Cup?

The other big events take place in the existing infrastructures. We have to set up everything, set up the stands and all the infrastructure. That takes a long time. At the same time, we have no guarantee that something will not change anytime soon. The financial risk is too great and we cannot assure it either.

You speak of financial risk. You don’t have to set up any infrastructure, but still: A World Cup race with no consuming spectators. Works?

That only works because we receive money from the federal government. Parliament voted in favor of the first tranche of the stabilization program. The decision for 2021 will be made in December. And we are guaranteed by Swiss Ski that we have covered our missing money on ticket sales and catering. That is why the financial risk for us is not great.

The interview was conducted by Matthias von Wartburg.