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There is always criticism for the use of the army on the Lauberhorn, this year also because of the war in the Ukraine.
Cedric HeebEditor Sports
Year after year, the organizing committee and the volunteers work day and night to offer ski fans in Wengen a worthy festival. The members of the Swiss army are also back in the thick of things and are helping where they can. A video shows people in camouflage shoveling snow down the slope at 4 a.m. Tuesday morning.
The use of the army members repeatedly causes criticism in the social media, but this year even more due to the Ukraine war. Some statements allude to the taxpayers’ money that, according to one Twitter user, is “squandered on private nonsense”. Another person writes: “In other countries they fight for survival and in Switzerland the army fights for a descent to ‘happen’.” Comments that Daniel Reist, Head of Defense Communications for the Swiss Army, left “uncomprehending”.
Military does not only stand for national defense
“The army is ready to defend the country if it needs it. But she is also ready to take on her orders, »Reist told Blick. However, these orders do not only include the defense of the country: “In the event of flooding, the first thing that is said is: ‘The army should come.’ That has nothing to do with direct defense, but with the survival of Switzerland.”
Reist also emphasizes that socially relevant tasks also fall within the army’s area of responsibility. There are clearly defined guidelines from the federal government as to whether events may use military aid.
For example, the applicant must prove that “the activities can be managed neither with their own funds nor with the help of civil or military clubs, associations and organizations, nor with the support of civil service or civil protection”. Not only ski races can count on the support under these conditions, service is also provided at the Tour de Suisse or the Unspunnen-Schwinget, for example.
«… then it would be the last Lauberhorn races»
OC President Urs Näpflin confirms that the races in Wengen would not be possible without the involvement of the military: “Without the army and civil defense operations, a Lauberhorn race would simply not be possible.”
The 63-year-old calculates what would happen if the military did not help with work such as preparing the slopes, assembling and dismantling the grandstands or the safety facilities: “If we compensated all volunteers and the army on normal terms, there would be a payroll of around 3.9 million francs.” An amount that would simply not be bearable – otherwise “it would be the last Lauberhorn races”.
There is no money from the federal government, as only one-off major events are financially supported. However, the World Cup races in Wengen take place every year, which is why “the federal government’s contribution is the army’s mission”.
More positive attitude towards the military
The organizers are very grateful to the members of the army, and the ski fans are also aware of the value of the military operation. According to Reist, the fact that a few comments on the Internet devalue it contradicts the attitude that has been perceived in Ukraine since the outbreak of war: “In principle, we have the impression that the attitude of the people, the public including the media, is much more positive towards the army .»
All volunteers, the military and civil defense are doing their best to create the best possible conditions for the Super-G on Friday (12 noon in the live ticker). Now we can only hope that the weather will cooperate.
Attention ski fans! Now quiz and type races
The 2022/2023 ski season is in full swing and so is the “Blick Ski Trophy”: Answer questions every day, type ski races and crown yourself as ski champion. Lots of great prizes await.
To take part in the “Blick Ski Trophy”, you have to register here.
Have fun and good luck!
The 2022/2023 ski season is in full swing and so is the “Blick Ski Trophy”: Answer questions every day, type ski races and crown yourself as ski champion. Lots of great prizes await.
To take part in the “Blick Ski Trophy”, you have to register here.
Have fun and good luck!