– When you become the subject of so much pepper, you eventually start to question everything you have done yourself, says Jacobsen to news. There has been a storm around the head of the Norwegian athletes’ committee in recent days, in the wake of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) claiming on Wednesday that the majority of athlete representatives wanted Russian and Belarusian athletes back in international sports. On behalf of the Norwegian athletes’ committee, Jacobsen was among those who took the floor during the meeting with the IOC earlier in January. There she said, among other things: “In our view, non-discrimination is inevitable. Our mission is to continue to be a unifying force, and that should remain our focus. This means that no athlete should be excluded on the basis of their passport” Read the full post here. Have double-checked several points On Saturday, the sports committee complained about how they had handled the matter. In an e-mail sent to the athletes, they acknowledged that the committee should have carried out a “more systematic mapping work” among the athletes and that they would call for a consultation round with Norwegian athletes. Jacobsen repeated the self-criticism during a digital meeting with top Norwegian athletes on Tuesday evening. She is aware that the many opinions surrounding the case have led to her having to review the work she has done. – I have tried to imitate myself in everything I have done and thought, and made sure that I have not misunderstood something very fundamental. That’s the contact I’ve had (with the IOC), to double-check the things I’ve thought were at least the starting point for what we’ve done. Just to make sure that what I say is credible, she says. Borch called for a time frame Now she is satisfied that they have the opportunity to continue a good process, and praises the participants at Tuesday’s meeting for their good input and questions. Among those who were most enthusiastic about the meeting was rower Kjetil Borch. Borch has previously been among the leading critics of how the matter has been handled by the athletes’ committee and Jacobsen. He tells news that, among other things, he asked about the notice deadline the athlete committee received from the IOC, a time frame for the process and how the other members of the athlete committee stood in the discussion about Russian and Belarusian athletes. COMMITTED: Kjetil Borch has been an active voice in the matter. Photo: Håkon Mosvold Larsen / NTB – Are you satisfied with the answers? – I understand that Astrid has been under a lot of pressure. She also has a job on the side and takes this position, says Borch. He goes on to say that he did not receive a clear answer to the meeting notice or time frame, but that Jacobsen should get back to him regarding the meeting notice. – We answer what we can, no matter who asks. If there is information that we do not have available right now, but need to find, we will of course do so. Then of course there are some restrictions as a leader for a group where there must be a ceiling height. We cannot go into detail about who said what at any given time. That is not the way to conduct board work, says Jacobsen. Borch is clear that in a process that is about whether Russian and Belarusian athletes should return, a clear position is taken. – When they have documented what opinion you have in Norwegian sport, I encourage you to send that information directly to the IOC. So that they have the right impression of what we mean, says Borch. The performers’ committee The performers’ committee consists of: Astrid Uhrenholdt Jacobsen (chair) Anna Margrete Sletsjøe (deputy chair) Aida Dahlen Anita Yvonne Stenberg Birgit Skarstein Lena Schrøder Sarah Louise Rung Stian Skjerahaug Øyvind Watterdal – Everyone should be able to say what they think Roeren thinks it is “critical” that a survey is coming soon that surveys the position of Norwegian athletes on the matter. Jacobsen, for his part, is clear that there are currently no timelines for the further process, but that they will work to have such a good and systematic basis for what they present next. – Are you planning to have a survey? – How we are going to solve it we have to do in consultation with the athletes we are to answer on behalf of. How we are going to solve it for the best for all the athletes, they should also have an opinion on that. So I can’t answer that right now, naturally. – The only thing I can say is that in that process everyone must be involved and be able to say what they think. Whether it happens in one form or another … It is far too early to say what is most appropriate. “Poor” turnout The turnout at Tuesday’s meeting is described by Borch as “poor”. He estimates that around twenty units participated in the digital meeting. At that time there were close to 20 people gathered on a big screen at the national rowing team. Several hundred people were invited to the meeting. – I think it is good that those who applied were interested and had a commitment. It’s really good. And then I know that there are certainly some who have not been reached, even with the measures we have tried to do with the resources we have available, says Jacobsen. – Then I must stress that these are performers. There are many athletes who bet. Which is in competition season. Who are busy, traveling or just have to concentrate on the job they have to do and that is to perform. I have the highest respect for that, she continues. She also chooses to see something positive in all the attention the case has given the athletes’ committee in recent days. – If one is to find something positive in all this, then perhaps there are a few more people who discover that we exist. That we don’t just sit in a room and buzz, but actually do something. And with that maybe you will want to get involved, she says.
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– Begins to question everything one has done – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcasting schedule
