It recently became known that the county council in Nordland wants to provide a grant of NOK 40 million for the construction of Bodø/Glimt’s new football stadium. The allocation is controversial, as the county council has simultaneously announced sharp cuts in speedboat services along the coast. Glimt’s economy is known to be the best in Norway. news has made Norstat ask the people of the North whether Glimt should get these millions: The county council in Nordland will give NOK 40 million in grants for the construction of a new stadium for Bodø/Glimt – Are you positive or negative about this allocation? The answers show that 45 percent are negative, while 37 percent are positive. The rest answer “not sure/don’t know”. – A scandal In Mo i Rana, news meets Bjørn Selfors in the Stålkameratene sports team. He is one of several volunteers who, over many years, has knocked on the doors of businesses and the public sector to collect money for his club. – I am a supporter of Bodø/Glimt and support them in absolutely everything they do. But I am not a supporter of the county council giving them the money. I think that is a scandal. CRITICAL: Selfors is not a fan of Bodø/Glimt getting money from the county council for its new football arena. Photo: Frank Nygård / news Selfors believes the county council cares too little about the local clubs. – I have raised money for sports and other things. And I know how difficult it is to get a financial contribution, especially from the county. The Education Association and the National Schools’ Association are also critical of the county council’s wish. “When Nordland County Council reduces investments within its primary areas of responsibility, we believe it would be wrong to give such a large grant to a football club with strong financial muscle”, writes the Education Association in a memo to the county council’s group leaders. Mayor: – We do not accept this. Because while the county proposes to support Glimt with NOK 40 million, savings must be made on the speedboat that runs along the coast. On Friday, residents of Steigen municipality met at the speedboat quay. They had lighted torches with them and a clear message: – We really do not accept this, said mayor Aase Refsnes (SV) when she visited news’s radio studio on Friday after the torchlight marking in her home municipality. – We in Steigen and Hamarøy once again have to pick up our torches to show that there are now proposed cuts that will affect our everyday life. This is the lifeblood of the coast. Steigen mayor Aase Refsnes (SV) chastises the county council for cutting speedboat routes at the same time as coughing up money for Norway’s richest football club. Photo: Kåre Riibe Ramskjell / news Because the offer is important for the municipality. About half of the residents of Steigen use the fast boat at least once a month. – This is the core of what the county council must do. And when the county council proposes cuts, it affects activity and business. How much will the county save on the speedboat cuts? NOK 30 million. Therefore, the mayor has little understanding that the cuts will come by speedboat, especially when you can afford to support Glimt with money for a new stadium. – I don’t buy the argument that this is where the pain is the least. To Avisa Nordland, she stated on Friday that: – Giving money for a new stadium to Bodø/Glimt stadium, for example, is not a core task. If you ask the question, the county council in Nordland is made up of the Center Party, the Conservative Party, the Progressive Party and the Liberal Party – and is led by county council leader Svein Øien Eggesvik (Sp). He understands that some people are reacting to the allocation to “rich” Bodø/Glimt. – I understand that you ask questions about it, because you like to put one thing against the other. It will be like that when we deal with the budget, what does the county council spend the money on? And then it is natural that you can ask such questions. UNDERSTANDS THE REACTIONS: County council leader Svein Øien Eggesvik understands that people question the award, but believes a new stadium will give back in the form of a desire to live and stay in the north. Eggesvik points out that the county council also expects to receive NOK 81 million from the sale of the land where Glimt wants to build the stadium. – Bodø/Glimt is a special club that contributes to the desire to live and stay. It is a good brand for the county and for the people of the North. To be decided soon The matter will be dealt with by the county council when they meet in Bodø next week. – In what way can the northerners make use of a large and beautiful new stadium? – They can do that by turning up and going to the games. But Aspmyra is a tired and old stadium. Bodø/Glimt needs a new stadium. When new stadiums are built in Norway, the public sector usually gets involved and contributes. In this case, the county council will contribute approx. 5 percent of the cost of the entire stadium. – Do you expect this case to go through at the next county assembly? – Yes, we hope for that and are betting that we will make it happen. It is a good thing for Nordland. Bodø/Glimt is a club that has grown a lot and needs a new stadium. This is a contribution from us, and they will give a lot back to housing and not least the desire to stay, says Eggesvik. Did you bring this with you from last year? Published 07.12.2024, at 13.28 Updated 07.12.2024, at 15.22
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