From the Ambassador February 2011

It is well known that the cradle of European culture and the cradle of democracy were both in Greece. But maybe not all readers know that also Norway can boast of a cultural cradle, i.e. the cradle of ski sports. From 23 February to 6 March this year, Oslo’s Holmenkollen ski arena will be the venue for world championship competitions in cross country skiing and ski jumping.

Also Greek athletes take part in the championship. In this month’s newsletter you can read about 20 year old Maria Danou who is soon ready to set off to Norway to compete with athletes from more experienced skiing nations. I wish her and the other Greek skiers a successful trip and hope they do well in the ski tracks.

Everyone involved in preparing for the events is aspiring to help accomplish the official goal to “create the best ever world championship on skis”. This goal is not a modest one; nevertheless quite likely to be achieved. Norwegians are known as skilled organizers of winter sports activities, as proven for instance during the Lillehammer Winter Olympic Games in 1994. We also offer the athletes an enthusiastic audience, hardly matched in any other country. To be present and support the ski competitors, even in freezing cold weather, is part of Norwegian culture.

This year’s Ski Championships will also be a showcase for Norwegian food, and at night the visitors can eat from the NWSC-menu at certified restaurants in downtown Oslo.

The 21 ski events will have a clear environmental profile. Our future, and of course the future of ski sports, depends on respect for the environment and on a relatively stable climate. To reduce any negative environmental consequences of the skiing activities has therefore been an important element in the planning of the skiing championship.

I wish all readers of the Norwegian embassy’s Newsletter a good winter season, and the best luck with their favorite athletes competing in The Nordic World Ski Championship in Holmenkollen.

 


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