Press Release 01st January 2008
Janne has said that from his side he was surprised that he got so much attention in Finland. Because not one time, during the Four Hills Tournament, did he read a newspaper and he only noticed on the return flight that he had made it to number one in the sports reports.
Only after having read the articles did I start to realise that I have probably performed something special.
One also notices from the reactions of people that they experienced the Four Hills Tournament very emotionally, told Janne.
What does Janne Ahonen have that makes him the best ski jumper? Talent, unyielding training and his calmness and kindness which are often overlooked, but are certainly part and parcel of his victories. Another important quality we: Deepen in detail. One has said that Janne makes everything Great that the others only make good. One can very clearly see how he strives to perfection , e.g., the way that he found the solution for the advertising company Konica Minolta, his sponsor for 15 years, and their advertisement tapes on his new skis. In the Four Hills Tournament Janne used his new white skis. Because the advertising tape of Konica has a white background colour, Janne thought that one did not see the advertisement well enough. However, he remembered, that Konica also had a logo where the background colour was black. Hence, he got in contact with the marketing department of Konica of Minolta and suggested that new tapes were fastened on his skis, with the background colour black.
Janne had also suggested that the corners should be rounded, so that they do not fray. Konica Minolta made the tapes in accordance with the suggestions of Janne and you could see them very clearly everywhere on television and in other media forms.
According to the marketing manager of Konica Minolta, Jarno Ahonen, the Four Hills Tournament has had the best logo occurence of all time. In Finland alone 1.4 million people sat before the television to watch the competitions in Bischofshofen .
In Germany ZDF reported 7.2 million spectators and a competition before it with ARD reported 6.2 million spectators. In Finland the number of spectators was the highest since Digi-Tv has come in. In Germany in comparison to the competitions one year ago, there were a million spectators more. About 80,000 spectators pursued the competitions live.
For Janne the long collaboration with a sponsor signifies security and dependability and brings assurance. One has needed these qualities, above all, with the Four Hills Tournament at the turn of the year. Jannes success with the Tournament has also caused the international marketing organisation of the company Konica Minolta to decide that their logo in the future will be on a black background as it was on the skis of Janne at the Competitions.
With the reception of Janne Ahonen many congratulators,
partners and press were present and all congregated round
Janne because of the victory. In spite of a lot of bustle, Janne
remained quiet as he always is. Even if the "Four Hills Tournament"
victory had still tasted sweet, his thoughts were already with the next
challenges of the season.
Janne Ahonen who can lay claim to a historical five victories in the 4 Hills Tournament, has only had one-day to rest because the festivities went on in the circle of his ski association in Lahti. The proof of how important this celebration was for him was shown by the fact that he came with his whole family. There were also many people present who have played an important role in helping this sportsman and his career to the point that he has now reached, for example the trainer of the Finnish Ski Jump Team, Tommi Nikunen, the chairperson of the Finnish Ski Federation, Esa Piirainen and the representatives of Janne Ahonens partners.
Two people who have contributed towards Jannes achievements with the 4 Hills Tournament are Messrs. Veikko Kankkonen and Pentti Kokkonen, they both told that they were very nervous, in particular in the last competition. Both men also thought that this victory also had a special value because of the pressure and the demands nowadays being much harder towards the jumpers than at the time that they were active jumpers. According to Mr. Nikunen one could really physically feel the tension , as the strong rain started to change the run of the competition .
Nikunen retold of how, In this phase when the ski jump table was so watery that we could heard trainers up on our stage, as the noise of the skis changed, we really began to fear and doubt and started to think that anything could happen. Nevertheless, Jannes speciality is that he is always good for a surprise, in difficult situations.
Janne Ahonen who can lay claim to a historical five victories in the 4 Hills Tournament, has only had one-day to rest because the festivities went on in the circle of his ski association in Lahti. The proof of how important this celebration was for him was shown by the fact that he came with his whole family. There were also many people present who have played an important role in helping this sportsman and his career to the point that he has now reached, for example the trainer of the Finnish Ski Jump Team, Tommi Nikunen, the chairperson of the Finnish Ski Federation, Esa Piirainen and the representatives of Janne Ahonens partners.
Two people who have contributed towards Jannes achievements with the 4 Hills Tournament are Messrs. Veikko Kankkonen and Pentti Kokkonen, they both told that they were very nervous, in particular in the last competition. Both men also thought that this victory also had a special value because of the pressure and the demands nowadays being much harder towards the jumpers than at the time that they were active jumpers. According to Mr. Nikunen one could really physically feel the tension , as the strong rain started to change the run of the competition .
Nikunen retold of how, In this phase when the ski jump table was so watery that we could heard trainers up on our stage, as the noise of the skis changed, we really began to fear and doubt and started to think that anything could happen. Nevertheless, Jannes speciality is that he is always good for a surprise, in difficult situations.
Janne has said that from his side he was surprised that he got so much attention in Finland. Because not one time, during the Four Hills Tournament, did he read a newspaper and he only noticed on the return flight that he had made it to number one in the sports reports.
Only after having read the articles did I start to realise that I have probably performed something special.
One also notices from the reactions of people that they experienced the Four Hills Tournament very emotionally, told Janne.
What does Janne Ahonen have that makes him the best ski jumper? Talent, unyielding training and his calmness and kindness which are often overlooked, but are certainly part and parcel of his victories. Another important quality we: Deepen in detail. One has said that Janne makes everything Great that the others only make good. One can very clearly see how he strives to perfection , e.g., the way that he found the solution for the advertising company Konica Minolta, his sponsor for 15 years, and their advertisement tapes on his new skis. In the Four Hills Tournament Janne used his new white skis. Because the advertising tape of Konica has a white background colour, Janne thought that one did not see the advertisement well enough. However, he remembered, that Konica also had a logo where the background colour was black. Hence, he got in contact with the marketing department of Konica of Minolta and suggested that new tapes were fastened on his skis, with the background colour black.
Janne had also suggested that the corners should be rounded, so that they do not fray. Konica Minolta made the tapes in accordance with the suggestions of Janne and you could see them very clearly everywhere on television and in other media forms.
According to the marketing manager of Konica Minolta, Jarno Ahonen, the Four Hills Tournament has had the best logo occurence of all time. In Finland alone 1.4 million people sat before the television to watch the competitions in Bischofshofen .
In Germany ZDF reported 7.2 million spectators and a competition before it with ARD reported 6.2 million spectators. In Finland the number of spectators was the highest since Digi-Tv has come in. In Germany in comparison to the competitions one year ago, there were a million spectators more. About 80,000 spectators pursued the competitions live.
For Janne the long collaboration with a sponsor signifies security and dependability and brings assurance. One has needed these qualities, above all, with the Four Hills Tournament at the turn of the year. Jannes success with the Tournament has also caused the international marketing organisation of the company Konica Minolta to decide that their logo in the future will be on a black background as it was on the skis of Janne at the Competitions.
