– We must work together with the organizers and not fight against them to increase the appeal. But if nothing happens, we have to act and react, says Sandro Pertile, the race director of the International Ski Federation (FIS). There were plans for a jumping party in Lysgårdsbakken this weekend. Polish Mikee and DJ Ucho were among the artists who were brought in to make sure things were going well in Lillehammer. For the Poles in the DJ duo Crowd Supporters are precisely known for pounding with pressure and putting the finishing touches on ski jumps around Europe. At the weekend, they were one of several entertainment features during the World Cup weekend in jumping. The only problem was that there were few shows to be delivered at Lillehammer, both for them and for the world elite in jumping. – It is far from what it should be, says managing director Per Olav Andersen in Lillehammer Olympiapark about the public attendance. CHIEF: Per Olav Andersen, managing director, in Lillehammer Olympiapark. Photo: Geir Olsen / NTB It is not the first time there has been poor attendance among the public at Lillehammer. Therefore, the organizer has taken measures to raise the content during the World Cup weekend. Among other things, this concerned entertainment, sound systems and a Polish company responsible for arena production. But in the huge arena, which was filled by several tens of thousands of people during the Olympics in Lillehammer, there were few bystanders when Stefan Kraft cheered after the victory. It was also very cold this weekend. – It is sad. We want it to be a great life with full grandstands and a good atmosphere when there is skiing. I think Lillehammer delivered well considering the conditions, but you know it’s a December weekend before Christmas. Then we have seen in the past that it is not as easy to get people on the ground, says news’s jumping expert Anders Bardal. Stefan Kraft won the big hill race at Lillehammer on Sunday. Here in the last soar to the competition. There were fewer participants towards the end of the competition, which was affected by very cold weather. Photo: Screenshot from news’s broadcast Under the microscope The organizer does not have the final numbers ready. In advance, they had sold just under a thousand tickets. Andersen estimates that there were a total of 1,400–1,500 spectators who purchased tickets during the World Cup weekend. – Our main impression is that it is a good weekend. But we would have liked more people to experience the party atmosphere and good artists, says Andersen. He points out that the TV picture “lies” a bit when the audience is spread over a very large area and there is also an audience tent on one side of the ground. – But we are honest that we want a lot more audiences, says Andersen. The TV pictures showed that the public attendance looked somewhat better during the race on the normal slope on Saturday. Glisne grandstands is something the International Ski Federation (FIS) keeps an eye on. For the race director in FIS, Sandro Pertile, says that there is strong competition to organize world cup races. – Absolutely. We are in a situation where some organizers cannot be included in the race calendar. So this is a topic, says Pertile to news. Pertile looked like the TV ticket at Lillehammer. But he says that public attendance also affects who gets to keep their chutes in the future. Sandro Pertile, race director at the International Ski Federation (FIS) Photo: Geir Olsen / NTB He thinks it is too early to evaluate the race at Lillehammer and that it is something they have to do after the season. But he noticed low attendance and that it has also happened before. – There were not many contributors. We have to evaluate what happened when you get a situation like this. As I said, the temperatures were very cold, says Pertile, who points out that it is important for them to work together with the organizer to lift the event. But he emphasizes that something should happen. Bardal thinks the same. – Firstly, jump-Norway must get to the point where an athlete can win, and in addition there should be some Poles who fight at the top, because Poles help create life, he says. Hope for improvement In Lillehammer, they hope that the event they have carried out is good enough that the FIS will continue to have the former Olympic city as a fixed stop in the future as well. – We don’t feel threatened. As long as there is dialogue with FIS management about the measures we are taking. There was a reason why we invested a lot, but the cost per grant was high. Now we have gained some experience, says Andersen. Who gets a World Cup race will be decided at the spring meeting of the International Ski Federation. Stefan Kraft won the race at Lillehammer on Sunday. Photo: Geir Olsen / NTB Andersen believes that it is a natural goal to draw up to 10,000 spectators one of the days during a World Cup event within three years. – We hope that in one, two or three years, people will understand that this is a much bigger experience than just show jumping, says Andersen, pointing out that the show jumping itself is very well communicated through the TV channel.
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