Ski World Cup and New Year's event in Garmisch-Partenkirchen: No spectators, big losses

Thousands of spectators come every year to the New Year's event and the four World Cup races in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

Not this time.

The ranks remain empty.

So do the registers.

• The

  Ski World Cup races and New Year's ski jumping

  in Garmisch-Partenkirchen will

  take place in

  front of a

  ghost

  backdrop.

• Without spectators, the two ski clubs have to

  cope with

  high financial losses

  .

  Money that the youngsters lack.

• But the organizers definitely want to prevent

  a

  cancellation

  : Elaborate hygiene concepts are currently being developed.

Garmisch-Partenkirchen

- The ziiiieeehh from thousands of throats - you won't hear it on January 1, 2021 in the Olympic ski stadium.

The thousands of flags in the target area of ​​the Kandahar - they will not fly.

Ski jumping and skiing fans with cowbells and costumes - you won't meet them.

“We said goodbye to the spectators,” says Michael Maurer, President of the Partenkirchen Ski Club, for the New Year's event.

His colleague Peter Fischer, chairman of the Garmisch ski club, puts it only slightly differently: "There will be no spectators," he says of the four World Cup races on the last weekend in January and the first weekend in February.

This decision is far from over.

The two chief organizers and their teams have been dealing with Corona and the effects on their events for months.

Sport, says Fischer, is no longer talked about at all.

“It's just hygiene.

Hygiene.

Hygiene. ”Routes, food, corona tests - every accredited person must show a negative result - and much more must be planned down to the last detail.

Partenkirchen and Garmisch ski clubs: everything is planned down to the last detail

The central theme: separating bubbles.

So to avoid that the bubbles of the athletes, the helpers and the media meet.

Another principle is to minimize as much as possible.

So: employ as few people as possible.

In addition, the ten principle applies.

A team of helpers therefore consists of a maximum of ten people.

There are also questions about food - it is forbidden to give the athletes a soup or sausage -, interviews - only with a microphone stick -, mask requirements, disinfection.

.

.

The list goes on for a long time.

"The whole concept, thought through to the end, means brutal work," says Maurer.

Especially since the end is never reached.

“Everything we do is just a snapshot,” emphasizes Fischer.

The situation can change at any time.

One thing is certain: there will be no mood.

“That really hurts,” says Mauerer.

"That will be missing," says Fischer.

As well as income in the six-figure range for the ski clubs and thus especially for the youngsters.

"But everyone feels the same," says Maurer.

“The big moaning doesn't help.” This quote could also come from Fischer.

Of course, he could feel sorry for himself at home.

“But then I would be the wrong person for the post.” Instead, both men do everything in their power to ensure that their events take place.

“That is the ultimate goal,” says Fischer.

"And we will manage it." Both say that.

New Year's jump under Corona conditions: "We will do that too"

SC Partenkirchen earns well over half a million euros every year from spectator tickets at the New Year's event.

And above all, it promotes the next generation.

Michael Maurer shouldn't even think about that.

He wants to stay positive, compares it with the enormous costs of building the hill.

The club took on 1.5 million euros of the 17.3 million euros in total.

They are well on their way to repaying the loan.

"We did it, we will do it now." Perhaps with the support of the ski association and politicians, but without insurance including pandemic protection.

It can no longer be locked for jumping.

In the concept, the SCP team incorporated the option of filling the stadium with the permitted 20 percent of its capacity.

That would be around 2500 viewers.

But Maurer does not assume that this will happen.

If so, then only if it can be implemented without additional costs.

The number of people is generally an important point.

The motto is: reduce.

The SCP only uses 150 instead of around 300 helpers.

Approximately 300 athletes and their supervisors can be expected - this is also the lowest possible level.

Then there are the media, the number of which will also be capped.

How many, Maurer wants to clarify in consultation with the other tour organizers in the next few days.

"But not every forest and meadow photographer will be able to come this year."

Ski World Cup under Corona conditions: "You need a bit of atmosphere"

The World Cup OK has calculated the whole thing.

If the house is sold out, there is space for 8,000 spectators at a race.

However, all standing room is now no longer available; it is forbidden at major events.

So you need an extra grandstand.

Cost: 60,000 euros.

For the fact that 270 people are allowed to watch according to the 20 percent rule.

Makes no economic sense.

And money is more in the focus this year than it is anyway.

The SC Garmisch lives primarily from the audience income.

How high they turn out every year - Fischer does not say.

Not even how much he makes with the World Cup.

Because he hardly ever talks about money.

One principle.

He did it a few times when he revealed: The SCG invests at least 150,000 euros every year in the next generation.

Money that comes from World Cup revenue.

In 2014 all races were canceled.

One heard of 200,000 euros minus.

The minus after 2019, when the men had to be canceled, was also six digits.

Fischer does not want to think about the "horror scenario" cancellation now.

“We assume that the races will take place.

Our unconditional will is there. ”What remains, after all, is the proceeds - amount unknown - from the marketing rights.

The major sponsors are still on board.

International ski association pays 20 percent of the prize money - "A beginning"

All challenges can only be mastered together, emphasizes Fischer.

Organizationally by the team on site, economically with many partners.

The OK has already had numerous discussions, and it will have many in the future.

For example with politics and with the ski association to what extent they can help financially.

The International Ski Association will pay 20 percent of the prize money.

80,000 euros for the World Cup OK - “that's a start,” says Fischer.

All in all, however, “we will not be able to compensate 100 percent for the failures”.

One problem: income is falling, and spending is increasing at the same time.

You save money in some areas.

“Corona eats that up by far.” Fischer gives an example to illustrate the additional effort: On the Tröglhang, the around 200 athletes and supervisors need an extra 300 square meter tent.

Accessories, food, heating - the helicopter has to fly everything up the mountain.

In the valley, the 400 helpers are not allowed to meet in the warehouse as usual - it's a lot narrow there.

So a tent is set up there too, and a complete infrastructure is set up.

Fischer will negotiate with the insurance company after the race.

For this year, the pandemic is still covered.

The extent to which the protection will apply in the event of a minus due to a lack of an audience - which has been established long in advance - is open.

There is one post that Fischer will not save on: stadium announcer André Siems.

He will come.

Music will also play in the Kandahar Arena.

And World Cup posters will point out the four races on site.

"You need a bit of atmosphere."