– I basically think that there is of course something that should have been in place straight away, says Halvor Egner Granerud to news. The World Championships in Trondheim will be the first time para athletes have participated in an ordinary skiing World Championships. There is a little over four months until the start, but it is still uncertain whether the para athletes who will compete will receive prize money. – Like many others, I reacted by saying that it won’t work. It just needs to be fixed. It can’t be like that, says Granerud. That is why the jumping star has taken matters into her own hands. He wants to give away a sponsor’s place on the neck of the jumping suit where the money will go to the prize pool for the para athletes. – This is my contribution, and of course I hope that I can scrape together some money that can be of help. It feels right, he says. GRANERUD: Halvor Egner Granerud is charging up for the Ski WC on home soil. Photo: Andreas Hagen / news – A little special Granerud’s invention makes paraski star Vilde Nilsen cheer. – First of all, I think it is incredibly nice of him to do something like this, Nilsen told news. With a trophy cabinet full of World Cup gold and four overall victories in the World Cup since 2019, she is one of Norway’s greatest hopes in the para training in the World Cup on home soil. The 23-year-old is quite clear that the absence of prize money would not have happened to able-bodied athletes. – We have to stand with hat in hand and ask for money. But I think that what is happening now is showing that para athletes are not 100 per cent equal to able-bodied people. Everything that is happening now has put things at a very extreme point, says Nilsen. CELEBRATE: Vilde Nilsen is surprised and very happy about Granerud’s invention. Photo: Aleksandr Nedbaev / news Tromsøværingen is still a little surprised that this comes from a ski jumper. – That it comes from a mare is a bit special, but incredibly, incredibly well done. – Why is it special? – I had perhaps hoped that some other big cross-country skiing profiles could join in and do something similar. So the fact that it is a ski jumper who does it is very surprising. But it shows that he has a good heart for everyone in society, and not least para athletics, says Vilde Nilsen. Rørt Ski WC has applied for support from the Ministry of Culture and Equality on two occasions, but the latest application for NOK 2.5 million for, among other things, prize money for the para athletes was rejected at the end of September. WC manager Åge Skinstad says that he and the rest of the organizing staff appreciated that someone started and that he is a bit emotionally moved by what Granerud is doing. Skinstad clarifies that he has spoken to Granerud himself and that this is not something they have asked for. WC CHIEF: Åge Skinstad guarantees that they will get decent prizes for the para athletes in the WC. Photo: Ski-VM – The mere fact that Halvor is doing this shows the commitment in a way. And we have said all along that we will ensure that the para athletes get decent prizes, says Skinstad. He explains that the challenge came because the para exercises entered the program after the budget was laid down. Any surplus in line with the budgeted amount will go towards expansion and development work in the Norwegian Ski Association and Sør-Trøndelag Ski District. The parade will also be beneficial, points out Skinstad. Therefore, they have to go to the market to find money for prizes for the para athletes. Noko Skinstad has guaranteed that they will succeed. So far, for example, close to NOK 50,000 has been collected in the joint that the Trondheim WC is behind. Ski jumper Halvor Egner Granerud hopes that his invention can give a further push in the work to find money for the para athletes. – I think it has a positive effect, as it turned out now, because it shows the differences that exist in sport. And it will be even more visible now that we will be competing in the same place, in the same championship. Then it should be as similar as possible. Incredible performance: Scored from kick-off in two matches in a row 01:03 Here’s the referee’s nose: – A bit of a circus today 00:38 Here Rosenborg celebrates the final ticket 01:07 Chaos and tear gas outside the stadium before the local match 00:49 Show more Published 10.10.2024, at 08.01
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Halvor Egner Granerud offers sponsorship space for para athletes – wants to help with prize money – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcasting schedule
