Column | The Magic of the Eagles

Now is the time to look up at the sky again. Of course, you should be in the Alps and have a clear view. Then, with a bit of luck, you can experience a special spectacle. Golden eagles fly through the air, almost drunk with joy. They first allow themselves to be carried high in spirals, then fold their wings and then plunge almost inexorably into the depths. Then they elegantly break their fall to start the spectacle again. They are drunk with love. Winter is mating season for golden eagles. We humans know what it's like too, when we no longer know what to do with our feelings. In this state of clear unpredictability, we sometimes do the craziest things to woo our loved ones. Of course, you can also quite simply buy a ticket to a sporting event to see eagles fly. In Oberstdorf, for example, or in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. In Innsbruck or Bischofshofen.

People throw themselves into the depths. Of course, the show of the ski jumpers at the Four Hills Tournament cannot be compared to the almost death-defying dive of the animal aerial artists. Of course, the flights and jumps of the athletes still inspire admiration. It is the courage that we admire, which makes us, the spectators, small, because we know that we could never do that and would never want to. The actors are magical beings from a world that is alien to us. Adventurers, crazy people too, because how can you just float through the air on two skis? On and on, on. Until the jump hill runs out. The human eagles plunge down almost into the flat finish area. Yes, that is also a spectacle that we are offered year after year. The stadiums are always sold out. High TV ratings are guaranteed. The Four Hills Tournament is magic. A reliable fixture at the turn of the year.

Four Hills Tournament is magic. © ANSA / ANNA SZILAGYI

A fixed point in our lives. This year it is being held for the 73rd time. I used the slide rule for a moment. I saw 63 of them. I still remember the first time very well. Our neighbor had the only television in town. There were a handful of us boys and we sat on the floor as if hypnotized and admired the jumpers. Black and white. Logical. To this day I remember the name of Björn Wirkola, a Norwegian. Later, as a teenager, I jumped from a real ski jump. With my normal skis, at the youth ski day in Icking. I am still proud of the certificate I received for it, even though it was probably not a flight, but more of a hop.

Flying Women Late then, an evening under floodlights. Another air show is on the programme. This time it is the women's turn, who have long been allowed to jump for Olympic honours. In the animal world they would even have an advantage. The wingspan of the females is larger than that of the men. But only a few pay the brave ladies the honour. 3200 spectators in Oberstdorf. For the men, at the opening jump of the tournament, there were ten times as many in the stadium. Guessing in the scene and researching the causes. Why hardly anyone wants to see the women flying from one of these mighty jumps? Do we not trust them to do it? We have long known that they are just as predestined as the men of creation. Perhaps they do not jump as explosively and not as far down. But their flights have long been similar to those of the men. The event for the women is called the Two Hills Tournament. Not only does that sound trivial, it also expresses a lack of appreciation.

Changes in the wrong place But perhaps it is already oversaturation. Even more ski jumping, more and more, after all, the qualification round has long been sold and broadcast as a top event. Or is it a general trend? The viewing figures for the women's Bundesliga in football are a fraction of those for the men. The number of spectators in the stadiums does not even reach that of the third men's league. These are simple facts. Meanwhile, in the presentation of sport, especially in the electronic media, i.e. TV, a reversal of the situation can be seen, just as if people wanted to finally achieve equality by force, which is now at the expense of men. Women are on the rise. Almost every presenter position is now filled by women. Women are assigned to commentators at football matches. There is no qualitative change to be observed. But the conscience of the broadcasters is satisfied for the time being. As is so often the case, trying to achieve change too quickly overshoots the mark. Perhaps it is therefore a good idea for the Four Hills Tournament for women to first slowly get used to the enormous dimensions of an institution such as this legendary ski jumping series. And even then it is unlikely that it will ever achieve this level of popularity. After all, it is the male eagles who celebrate their dives to please the women. All is well with the world.

To the author. Sigi Heinrich The award-winning sports journalist (including winner of the German Television Prize, the Bavarian Sports Prize and nominated for the prestigious Grimme Prize), author, long-time sports editor of the Süddeutsche Zeitung and commentator at Eurosport since 1989, devotes his weekly column to the entire spectrum of sports and also likes to venture into unfamiliar territory. Sometimes with a wink, sometimes thoughtfully or even deliberately provocatively. There should be something for everyone.

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Column | The Magic of the Eagles

The Four Hills Tournament for ski jumpers has lost none of its appeal. Our columnist Sigi Heinrich understands that women now want a similar series. However, the current trend does not seem to be particularly favorable for such a project.

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