The start of the Four Hills Tournament is done! The jumping in Oberstdorf traditionally is the first highlight of the season. At the same time, it is also the last competition in the old year 2020. A really demanding year which presented us all with unexpected challenges. What the Polish team experienced shortly before the start of the tour was, without a doubt, a really big challenge. Especially for the nerves of the athletes and the Polish fans. Thank goodness it finally came to a negative-positive end. When I watched the competitions on television, I was thinking about how it could be to be tested positive first and then do a negative test immediately afterwards.

A few hours later, I found out that this is going faster than I thought. My team, two employees who were actually supposed to ensure the track maintenance in Garmisch, were tested positive in the obligatory PCR test, which needs to be presented before every FIS event. With the history of the Polish national team in mind, I immediately arranged a second test. As mentioned before, both tests were negative! To confirm the result one more time, another PCR test was carried out within 24 hours - again negative. The whole thing makes the story of the Polish team appear in a completely different light and it seems that you just need a bit of luck with, excuse me the expression, “PCR roulette”. I just can't explain it any other way.

Due to the whole testing process, it is unfortunately not possible for us to meet the necessary deadlines for Partenkirchen. Therefore this time we miss the New Year's event. However, we do our best to provide the chief of the hill Thomas Scheck with advices and the best we can from home. My team around Dirk Pfeiffer will then, as usual, ensure the best starting conditions and the necessary security in Innsbruck from January 1, 2021 and later at the Tour final in Bischofshofen.

For me it will be the first Four Hills Tournament in 13 years that, due to the circumstances, I watch from the living room at home. The only thing left for me is to wish all athletes a successful tour and all others a Happy New Year 2021! Remain positive in thought and negative in testing!

Yours sincerely,

Peter Riedel