At the latest national opening at Beitostølen, activists from Greenpeace protested against the oil company. And the environmental organization is not generous in its criticism of the collaboration between Equinor and the Norwegian Skiing Association. – We think it is completely absurd that an oil company is allowed to sponsor skiing. It is as absurd as if a tobacco company were to sponsor the cancer association, says head of Greenpeace Norway Frode Pleym to news. He believes that Equinor engages in sports and greenwashing itself, by sponsoring the Skiing Association. GREENPEACE LEADER: Frode Pleym. Photo: Hans Solbakken / news – Equinor is the big, ugly wolf in Norway. By far the largest source of emissions. That is why we believe that an oil company should not sponsor skiing, we think that is completely absurd and hopeless. Equinor tells news that they take climate change very seriously. The company, formerly known as Statoil, has set itself the goal of halving climate emissions by 2030 and being climate neutral by 2050. – We have no need to either sport wash or green wash our operations. We think it is natural that we, as Norway’s largest company and by virtue of our operations, contribute to talent development, says Equinor’s press spokesperson, Magnus Frantzen Eidsvold, to news. He states that they have increased the gross investments in renewable energy and low-carbon energy from 4 per cent to around 20 per cent between 2020 and 2022. – We believe this shows that we are serious about the transition to renewable energy. Professor: – Paradoxically, Greenpeace also receives support from the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) when it comes to criticism of the collaboration. Sigmund Loland, professor of sports philosophy, sports and ethics at NIH, believes that the collaboration seems somewhat contradictory. – It appears paradoxical that a sport that could go under due to the climate crisis enters into agreements with a group that extracts fossil energy which is one of the most important causes of the climate crisis, says Loland to news. PROFESSOR: Sigmund Loland. Photo: Hans Solbakken / news – On the other hand, there are many who believe that a group such as Equinor is both part of the problem, but also part of the solution. Equinor has ambitious transformation plans, says Loland, and refers to the company’s plans to halve emissions by 2030, and zero emissions by 2050. He nevertheless believes that the Ski Association has a “fundamental communication challenge” surrounding the collaboration with the oil giant. – Seeing a cross-country skier on snow with a logo belonging to a group that extracts fossil energy, which in turn can cause the snow to disappear, is paradoxical, says Loland. “Agree to disagree” The collaboration between the Ski Association and Equinor, through the sponsorship and talent development program “Heroes of Tomorrow”, started as early as 2009. On Tuesday, a meeting was held between the association and Greenpeace, where sponsorship collaboration was the theme. – We were keen to tell about all the meaningful measures we take, aimed at our own business in order to reduce the negative impact it has on the environment, says head of government contact and sustainability in the Norwegian Ski Association Ola Keul to news. SKI GUIDE: Ola Keul. Photo: Terje Bendiksby / NTB – Like everyone here in Norway who loves winter, we share the concern expressed by Greenpeace. During the meeting, according to Pleym, they “agreed to disagree”, but are happy that they have been able to establish a dialogue. – And then we will put pressure on the Skiing Association to discredit Equinor, but also pressure Equinor to get out of skiing. Ski-Norge needs money both for top and bottom, but that money must come from other places than an oil company, he says. But according to Keul, the association has no plans to replace Equinor. – The Skiing Association has no plans to end the collaboration with Equinor, says Keul.
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– As if a tobacco company were to sponsor the cancer association – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcast schedule
