Environmental activists intend to disturb the Trondheim Games.
The environmental activist group has threatened to disturb Trondheim’s World Championships. Pasi Liesimaa
There is a threat of so-called green terror at the Nordic Ski Championships in Trondheim, Norway.
-There have been threats and attacks in the past at sporting events, says the World Cup leader Åsne Havnelid.
Folk Mot Fossilmakta, a group of environmental activists, has publicly stated that it will interrupt the men’s 50 kilometer free competition on March 8. Other competitions have also been bothered.
– We live in a democratic society, so expression of opinions is completely free. But it’s not a good thing if they are going to stop the competitions. It is dangerous to athletes.
Environmental activists primarily oppose fossil fuels. They demanded the organizers to remove all the logos and ads of the companies involved in the fossil fuel business from the World Cup. Another requirement was that the video board of Granåsen’s ski stadium should be presented with an information video for the activity messages.
The organizers refused.
– We definitely accept that they have a different view of things than we do. Activists have said they do something during the World Cup. We hope they do nothing that hurts competitions and athletes. I don’t think it’s a good way to tell the views of the world. Hopefully they will find other ways to get their message, comments the CEO of the World Cup Åge Skinstad.
The back of a secure
The main stage of the World Championships is Granåsen Stadium. Pasi Liesimaa
Green activists have hit a few sports events in Norway and Sweden in recent years.
Last season, the Swedish Vasalopet saw an incident as environmental activists ran to the track in the middle of the race. Similar disturbance behavior has previously occurred, for example, in the Stockholm Diamond League and the World Skiing World Cup in Oslo’s Holmenkollen.
At the World Skiing World Cup in Lillehammer in December 2022 Finnish skier Juuso Haarala Stumbled into the collision -crapped protesters, fell and cut off his rod.
-I have no exact number of security staff in the World Cup, but there are many of them. We have good cooperation with police, law enforcement officers and volunteers, Skinstad says.
Last season, there was a threat to the Holmenkollen Games. The races went smoothly. There were numerous law enforcement officers and police along the race tracks, especially around the TV cameras. Some of them were in civilian clothing.
– Nothing is different than last season in Oslo, but we need more people. This is also due to the fact that Trondheim’s downtown prize -giving place must be secured, says Havnelid.
Trade
Åsne Havnelid is the leader of the World Cup. Pasi Liesimaa
The ticket hatch is doing well, as the border of the 200,000 Tickets sold for the World Cup broke on Tuesday. Granåsen’s ski stadium is driven by 22,500 and Mäkimonttu 18,000 spectators. There are tens of thousands of people along the trails.
– This is going to be a real folk party, Havnelid gets excited.
Fourteen years ago, 270,000 tickets were sold to the Oslo World Championships. In 2017, there were about 180,000 tickets in Lahti.
– Before the Trondheim Games, we wondered if people want to come to the scene. It looks like they want. It is magical to see top skiing live because you do not experience the mood on TV.