Four Hills Tournament: Sniffer dogs provide a sense of security

At the 74th Four Hills Tournament, organizers and local authorities are placing particular emphasis on safety. During the opening festivities in Oberstdorf, police deployed sniffer dogs to search for explosives and conducted visible security checks around the venue.

According to the column, the dogs’ presence initially led some athletes to joke or worry that the investigators were after them, but the canines are part of standard anti-explosive precautions intended to protect competitors, staff, and spectators. The measures are described as a response to the current climate in which security is being taken especially seriously at major public events.

The piece frames the sniffer dog teams as providing reassurance and a “feeling of security” for everyone on site while the Four Hills Tournament—one of ski jumping’s signature events—gets underway in Oberstdorf.