Hefty Controversy Surrounding Helmet Sponsor

Hefty Controversy Surrounding Helmet Sponsor

Good news for the financially stricken Norwegian ski jumping team! The Scandinavians are set to benefit from additional support from a well-known sponsor, though controversial discussions are likely.

The Norwegian men's and women's national teams in ski jumping have found a temporary solution to their recent financial woes. According to the Norwegian Ski Federation, the defense contractor Nammo will serve as the interim main sponsor for the team. The Nammo logo is expected to appear on the helmets of the Norwegian athletes starting at the World Cup opener in Lillehammer. Nammo has been a sponsor since 2010 but has typically remained in the background.

Norway's sports director, Jan-Erik Aalbu, expressed relief at this collaboration. "Nammo demonstrates its strong commitment to Norwegian ski jumping by supporting us beyond its normal agreement. This gives us more time and financial strength before a permanent main partner is found," he stated in the federation's announcement. Nammo has a longstanding partnership in aerodynamics and has contributed significantly to the team's athletic performance.

Serious Controversies Surrounding Nammo: Protests at Home World Cups

The search for a permanent main sponsor continues and aims to be resolved before the home World Championship in Trondheim. "Nammo will pass the best spot for the logo on the helmet to a potential new main sponsor before the ski world championships in February and March," Aalbu promised.

However, the sports director is aware that there are critics of this additional sponsorship. Nammo is, after all, a Norwegian defense contractor. Norwegian media reported protests during last season's home World Cups in Lillehammer and Oslo against the sponsor. Recently, Borussia Dortmund faced backlash when it presented Rheinmetall as a sponsor.

The Norwegian Ski Federation was under considerable pressure given the circumstances. Coach Magnus Brevig recently lamented that they were operating on a tight budget, with only a third of the original budget available. Unusual austerity measures regarding travel, accommodation, and dining became unavoidable, and TV ratings plummeted over a disappointing previous season.

Ski Jumping: Norwegians Aim to Shine at Home World Championships

Nammo and the Norwegian Federation now share the goal of giving their home athletes wings before the World Championships. "We want to support both the girls and boys of the national ski jumping team to focus on what matters most: jumping as far as possible this season and hopefully winning some medals in Trondheim," said Fredrik Tangeraas, Executive Vice President of Communications at Nammo.

After Halvor Egner Granerud's remarkable achievements in 2023, including victories in both the Tour and Overall World Cup, the team struggled last winter. However, strong performances in the summer Grand Prix have once again drawn the competition's attention to Norway.