No bans on politics at Holmenkollen
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Loading... - Dominguez Gladys
- 24 Mar 2023
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“We want to mark our broad support for Ukraine,” Erik Røste, president of Norway’s national skiing federation NSF, had told newspaper Dagsavisen before competition began, first with a sprint in Drammen on Thursday and then through the weekend at Holmenkollen.
Russian athletes were nowhere to be seen, after NSF claimed they were unwelcome, wouldn’t let them participate and ultimately won backing for that from the international ski federation FIS. The Russians packed up and left, frustrated and disappointed that their season was disrupted because Russian President Vladimir Putin had invaded and launched widespread attacks on Ukraine.
Sponsors of the Holmenkollen Ski Festival, meanwhile, added to the highly visual support for Ukraine, with grocery store chain Coop and homebuilder OBOS among those blanketing the arenas and lining the trails with banners in Ukraine’s colours. Athletes’ start numbers were also emblazoned over the colours of the Ukrainian flag. Spectators were urged to wear blue and yellow clothing and in Drammen, Ukrainian flags flew. The Holmenkollen Ski Jump itself, owned by the City of Oslo, has been bathed in blue and yellow lights all week. Read More…
