Eberhard Riedel Honorary Citizen of Oberwiesenthal!

In the framework of a ceremonial ceremony on the market square in Oberwiesenthal, my father Eberhard Riedel yesterday, Sunday, was Honorary citizenship awarded the honorary citizenship of the city of Kurort Oberwiesenthal. What an honor!

Together with his former successful coach Joachim Loos, the two greatly shaped ski history at the Fichtelberg and laid the cornerstone for an extraordinarily successful Alpine ski department on our hometown mountain. “The Miracle of the Fichtelberg” - how the success story of yesteryear was carried to the world, culminated in three Olympic appearances and World Cup wins in Adelboden and Kranjska Gora. Training was under the most difficult conditions; as a citizen of the DDR, it was far from easy. The more creative and persistent you had to be to achieve your goals. And they were indeed, the lift route at the Fichtelberg was quickly repurposed into a downhill piste. On the occasion of the 100th birthday of the former successful coach, this piste now bears the name “Joachim Loos.”

With the award of the title “Honorary Citizen of Oberwiesenthal,” my father has now also received a great honor that he more than deserves. The honorary citizenship stands as a sign of gratitude for the international attention that the town of Oberwiesenthal has gained through Eberhard Riedel’s successes. Since then, Oberwiesenthal is no longer an unknown spot on the international ski map. This was also confirmed by Jens Weisflog and Gisela Lass, who delivered the laudation for my father.

On the occasion of his 85th birthday, the city administration requested the award of honorary citizenship from the city council; with a large majority, a yes was voted. Since yesterday, my father may proudly bear the title “Honorary Citizen of the Town of Kurort Oberwiesenthal" now.

"It is emotionally very moving to revisit the whole story from back then. The images are so present and pass before my mind’s eye again, as if all of it had only just happened recently. May today’s day, the trust and the appreciation shown to me, continue to live on in our town Kurort Oberwiesenthal. Thank you for that!", as my father said in his speech, in which he provided especially exciting insights into the “Miracles from the Fichtelberg” provided.

Those who know my father know that he can talk for hours about the experiences of that time. Thank God he held his speech a little shorter yesterday :-)

As his son I am extremely proud and I want to express my utmost respect for what he achieved. Being the son of an honorary citizen is something special!