You should be proud!
Chairman of the Board of Oslo2011 Svein Aaser and CEO Åsne Havnelid. Photo: Petter Tandberg.
On Sunday afternoon, the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships ended with the medal ceremony after the 50k, followed by the closing ceremony. – Norway and all Norwegians: you should be proud, said FIS-president Gian-Franco Kasper, who called the championships for a unique skiing festival.
The Norwegian spectators were singing at Holmenkollen as it was time for the last medal ceremony of the championships (50 km mass start men). There was still a huge crowd present in the cross country arena when FIS-president Gian-Franco Kasper delivered the medals to the winners and the honorary gifts where presented by His Majesty Kong Harald V and FIS-council member Sverre Seeberg. The most-played national anthem during these championships – the Norwegian one – was played and sung for a last time.
Troll-atmosphere
While the Norwegian singer Helene Bøksle created troll-like atmosphere with her song “Heimo and Nykkjen”, and while the Norwegian skiers Petter Northug, Tord Asle Gjerdalen, and Sjur Røthe made their lap of honor, the closing ceremony was prepared. Carrying national flags, His Majesty the King’s Guard marched into the stadium representing the 49 participating nations.
Chairman of the board of Oslo2011, Svein Aaser, thanked the International Ski Federation FIS, the Norwegian Skiing Federation, the Federation for promotion of skiing, and the Organizing Committee, lead by CEO Åsne Havnelid. Aaser especially thanked the Royal Family for their effort. He emphasized that His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon Magnus participated actively in the Advisory Board and was in the midst of several medal ceremonies: this has inspired a lot, Aaser said.
Alluding to one of the goals of the Organizing Committee before the championships, Aaser made the following understatement accompanied by massive cheering of the crowd: I would go as far as to say that we might have spread some winter enthusiasm during these championships.
First, I want to thank all the volunteers. It is you who made this Nordic World Ski Championships possible, said CEO Åsne Havnelid. She also directed a warm thank to the spectators: You were patient, and you created a fantastic atmosphere during the championships!
Unique skiing festival
The next speaker was FIS-president Gian-Franco Kasper, who thanked the athletes for their outstanding performance. Also Kasper thanked the 2.200 volunteers, which he called the “heart and soul of these championships”. In addition, he emphasized the spectators, which he stated had created a unique skiing festival: Norway and all Norwegians, you should be proud. You have organized outstanding and unforgettable championships, Kasper said.
Thereafter, Kasper declared the championships of Oslo 2011 for officially closed, before the FIS-flag was lowered and delivered to the organizers of the next FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Val di Fiemme, Italy.
The director of the Organizing Committee in Val di Fiemme, Tiziano Melarini, thanked Norway, Oslo, and Holmenkollen for a great event, and wished everybody welcome to the next championships in Italy.
The official championship song ”Glorious” was then played for a last time while the crowd went home after twelve fantastic days of skiing festival at Holmenkollen.
Source: Oslo 2011
