"We are a small country but we are a large people"
6000 people were gathered in Oslo Spektrum on August 21st for the National Memorial Ceremony addressed by the Norwegian King Harald, and the Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg. Among these 6000 people were relatives of the victims, survivors, police and emergency personnel who dealt with the attacks. Norwegian government and parliament, the royal family as well as dignitaries from neighbouring countries were also present. The ceremony marked the end of the first month of grieving.
Norway's King Harald. Photo: Kyrre Lien / SCANPIXNorway’s King Harald held an emotional speech at the ceremony: “
It is good to be together at this time. As a father, grandfather and husband, I can only begin to sense some of the pain you feel. As king of the nation, I feel for every one of you"
The King and Queen attended the ceremony together with the Crown Prince and Crown Princess, Princess Märtha Louise, Ari Behn and Princess Astrid. Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark also attended together with the president of Finland, Tarja Halonen, and the president of Iceland, Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson. The prime ministers of all the Nordic countries were also present.
The Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg received standing ovations from the audience after his speech. “Today time stops in order to remember those who died. We do it as one nation. Every candle has warmed, every thought has comforted, every rose has given hope. We are a small country but we are a large people”, he said. Read the whole speech here.
Stage covered with 77 candles
In addition to the speeches from Jens Stoltenberg and King Harald, the ceremony included performances by some of Norway's top artists. The famous 1980’s pop group A-ha performed their song “Stay On These Roads” while Susanne Sundfør performed “My little country”.
The ceremony was broadcast live on national television and the name of each victim was read out loud at the candle-lit stage of Oslo Spektrum. The stage was covered with 77 candles, one for each who lost their lives.
Elsewhere in Oslo, flags flew at half-mast as people laid flowers outside the cathedral and children blew soap bubbles in remembrance of the victims.
The ceremony can be watched in its entirety on NRK’s website.