– It’s never happened before

MIDTSTUEN (Dagbladet): – There are several indications that the space on the helmet is still vacant. If anyone wants a place next weekend, just give me a call.

This is what the national team manager for players, Klaas Brady Brathin, told Dagbladet. He says it partly jokingly, partly serious — but the background is dramatic enough: the jumpers lack sponsors.

All post-Olympic sponsorship contracts expired this spring. For now, HELP Forsikring will continue until WC in Trondheim in 2025. According to what Dagbladet has learned, the arms manufacturer Nammo is about to sign a new agreement. But jumpers lack a general sponsor and few sponsors.

In the past, actors like VG and LO had their logos very visible on jumpers’ helmets. The same applies to the oil and gas company OMV, Statoil and Forenede Forsikring.

But at the weekend, everything indicates that there will be no sponsor logo on the helmets of the Norwegians at all. This place is reserved for the general sponsor, who has not yet been appointed.

This will cause an uproar in Wisla in Poland. Men and women compete on the same ground.

– How far will a faint jumper?

– It won’t be what it used to be, no. Help will be found in any case on the lawsuit. I expect there will be another logo, but we need the final clarifications, says Brathen.

– But I hope that throughout the season we can build what was demolished. It’s a phenomenal job, building on the experience gained from what I’ve helped build over 20+ years.

Response to NRK

Brathin points to the conflict between him and the Norwegian Ski Association that erupted last year. He believes that the time that should have been spent on bail work has been lost in connection with the dispute.

The feud with him actually ended and he’s still number one in Hopp-Norge. The Figure Skating Association provided an account showing that it spent nearly three million NOK on the conflict.

The settlement ended with Bråthen changing his title from Sports Director to National Team Manager.

– The World Cup has started with more marks for Norwegian jumpers than it will be now, admits the national team manager.

– But at the same time, I feel that athletes, and what we stand for, are very valuable. This is what we must make sure to take advantage of. I’ve been saying it for a very long time that it will take time.

When was the last time Norwegians didn’t have a logo on their helmets?

– This is the first time since 1800 a wooden skate has not had a shepherd on the helmet, says Bråthen.

Viaplay is making changes

Or more precisely:

– That hasn’t happened since we started selling the place in the mid-’80s.

– Do you think it will work?

When I don’t have faith, you’ll see it. Then I do something else.

Brathen confirms:

– We would have been able to sell the place, if we had made deals that would have been much cheaper than the value. There are many who are willing to pay a lower price. We cannot participate in that. Then we will destroy what will happen in the run-up to the World Cup in 2025.

– If showjumping cannot be funded before the soccer World Cup on home soil, I think it will reflect the format of the tournament in Trondheim. But I am optimistic.

And the:

– We can’t sell this for prices that mean we don’t have a chance to contribute during the World Cup on home soil. But everything is negotiable. We want to give the partners who enter the best possible ROI.

If the income continues to fail, it will affect the investment of the mares. For now, it’s – as Dagbaldet understands it – “business as usual” for the rest of the year. The budget for this season is about 25 million NOK.

All the players Dagbladet spoke to during the NM in Midtstubakken at the weekend said that sporting things were going well – even with sponsorship challenges.

– I feel good. There is a lot of good jumping during the day. I can’t wait to get started, says Halvor Aigner Granrod.

– It looks very positive. I’m really looking forward to getting started, says Daniel Andre Tandy.

He jumped: – Strange

Last year he had a “LO” on his helmet. This season only has a Norwegian flag.

So far.

And this weekend, the Norwegians will show themselves to thousands of TV viewers.