Debate continues over Ski-VM 2011
February 20, 2011
As Oslo warms up for this week’s opening of the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships (Ski-VM 2011), criticism and conflicts over the event are giving way to unabashed boosterism. Debate continues, however, over the massive investment in the 12-day skiing competition, most of it arguably at taxpayer expense. The actual burden on Oslo taxpayers has [...]
Oslo all abuzz before Ski-VM
February 20, 2011
Construction workers and craftsmen have been in full swing along Oslo’s main boulevard through downtown, Karl Johans Gate, to prepare for Wednesday’s opening of the FIS World Ski Championships (Ski-VM 2011). Saws are buzzing as artists create ice sculptures, stages and outdoor screens have been set up, and refreshment stands are in place. It’s clear [...]
Ski champs get media drilling
February 4, 2011
Norwegian athletes aren’t only warming up for the Nordic World Ski Championships in Oslo (Ski VM 2011) later this month. They’re also being given extensive media coaching, while debate flies over glaring examples of potential conflicts of interest on the ski trails and the air waves. The Norwegian media have featured several stories this week [...]
Wedged beneath Holmenkollen…
February 4, 2011
MUSEUM GUIDE: Norway’s capital is full of museums, and they’re often in the news. We’re following that news, and aim to focus regularly on a specific museum or attraction worthy of a visit. THIS WEEK: The Ski Museum at Holmenkollen, before it gets too busy with the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships starting in a few [...]
Make or break for women’s ski jumping
February 2, 2011
The performance of women ski jumpers at the Nordic World Ski Championships in Oslo later this month is likely to determine whether they’ll make it onto the Olympics. Crowd response may tip the decision of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), so to ensure a sufficiently festive mood, some of the tickets are being distributed free [...]
Holmenkollen line rolls again
December 9, 2010
It may not be quite as old as the hills, but the public transit line from downtown Oslo to the Holmenkollen Ski Jump and beyond has served the city and its visitors for more than a century. Now it’s had a major upgrade, completed just in time for the Nordic Skiing World Championships this winter. [...]
Copper robbers threaten Holmenkollen line
July 23, 2010
Crews refurbishing the new public transit line up to Oslo’s rebuilt Holmenkollen Ski Jump are sounding alarms over repeated theft of cables containing copper. They fear the copper robberies may delay completion of the important transit line in time for the Nordic Skiing World Championships this winter. Newspaper VG reported how construction crews have arrived at [...]
Ski jump opens, closes, opens…
July 6, 2010
Oslo’s new national monument, the re-built Holmenkollen Ski Jump, was supposed to start welcoming paying visitors over the weekend after finally opening to the public. Its brand-new elevator, though, couldn’t handle the crowds and got stuck, forcing the tower to close on both Saturday and Sunday. Hiccups continued on Monday, when Views and News made [...]
Growth boosts Poland’s image
March 23, 2010
Forget the stereotype of the seasonal worker from Poland who travels to Norway every summer to pick strawberries. With Poland’s own economy on the rise, the country now is more likely to produce highly qualified workers who will opt to return home quickly. Newspaper Aftenposten used three pages in one of its weekend editions to [...]
Businesses compete to be sponsors
March 19, 2010
After last weekend’s successful World Championship preliminaries at Oslo’s new Holmenkollen sports complex, companies are lining up to be sponsors. Fears that the finance crisis would spoil funding are being brushed aside. Sports officials were worried 18 months ago that the organizing committee for next year’s Nordic Skiing World Championships in Oslo would have trouble [...]
Sun shone on Holmenkollen
March 14, 2010
Oslo officials could hardly have hoped for a better grand opening weekend for the new Holmenkollen winter sports complex. The sun came out, crowds turned up, early controversies seemed forgotten and Norwegian athletes grabbed more glory, at least on Saturday. Norway’s royal family was out in full force for the action on Sunday, when the [...]
Holmenkollen Day 2010
March 14, 2010
PICTURE SERIES: Sunshine and thousands of spectators turned out for the first “Holmenkollen Day” in Norway’s new ski jumping arena. It was an historic event for Oslo, and it attracted locals and visitors alike, from all over the world. See some of them in this picture series. Click on the image to move forward. Hover your [...]
Holmenkollen ready for action
March 12, 2010
After years of planning, arguing, celebrations and budget scandals, the new Holmenkollen Ski Jump was set to receive thousands of sports fans and athletes over the weekend. Even the weather seemed ready to cooperate, and the royals would be out in force. The action was kicking off Saturday with Nordic skiing competition that included a [...]
Taking the shine off Holmenkollen
March 5, 2010
NEWS COMMENTARY: The emotional outpouring over a skier’s misguided jump this week has amounted to one of those “only in Norway” sorts of stories. It says a lot about priorities in this small but often passionate country, for better or worse. There aren’t many other places in the world where a skier’s jump would dominate [...]
Debate flies over ban on ski jumper
March 5, 2010
One of Norway’s top ski jumpers has been banned from competing in two World Cup events this weekend, after he spoiled the ceremonial opening of Oslo’s new Holmenkollen Ski Jump. Debate is flying, though, over whether his punishment is too harsh. Bjørn Einar Romøren (shown at right in recent action at the Winter Olympics) made a [...]
