At first glance, everything looks like it does. At the foot of the notorious Streif, a mighty tubular steel grandstand rises like in the best times of the spectacle. But when the downhillers at the Hahnenkamm race jump down the finish line at up to 140 kilometers per hour, there will probably only be sparse applause. Because in times of the pandemic, only 1,000 handpicked spectators are allowed to sit on said grandstand – vaccinated or recovered, additionally with a negative PCR test.
They are: sponsors, officials, regular guests – but no Schwarzenegger, no Schweinsteiger. The stars, not just those from Hollywood, are giving Austria’s skiing Mecca a wide berth this time. No wonder with a seven-day incidence of well over 3,000. The “Gamsstadt” is deep red on the Corona map, masks are compulsory everywhere. The police have announced that they will be “permanently present” at the races as part of an “action sharp”. Parties are undesirable, where otherwise in January…
