– There is a bit of a double standard going on, says ice hockey president Tage Pettersen. He is supported by several other sports figures. – We become a parasite that travels around, says handball president Kåre Geir Lio. – I fully understand these statements, and I sympathize with them, agrees basketball president Jan Hendrik Parmann. HOCKEY PRESIDENT: Tage Pettersen. Photo: Stine Løvmo Lie / news They are all talking about the Ministry of Culture and Equality saying no to opening the money tap to make it easier to get more major championships to Norway. – In a way, we are becoming a “rogue nation” that thinks it is great to win medals in championships organized by other countries. And we are critical when the “wrong” country organizes, says Pettersen. – We will be tall and dark On Friday, it became known that the handball association has received a rejection of its application for 16 million in grants for the WC for men in 2025. Just before the new year, the ice hockey association received a similar rejection. They ended up withdrawing the entire WC application. Both confederations were to use the money to make the facilities WC-ready, as there are no arenas big enough to host either handball or hockey finals in this country. – It is a challenge to be the host nation for championships other than skiing in Norway, and especially for indoor sports, says Pettersen, who is also a parliamentary politician for the Conservative Party. He believes that the government must see the value of championships on Norwegian soil. – Because we get high and dark when countries we don’t like get and have championships, so then you also have to make arrangements for more championships in Norway, he reasons. HANDBALL TOPPER: Erik Langerud, general secretary of the handball association, (with flowers) and president of the same association, Kåre Geir Lio. Photo: Geir Olsen / NTB Langerud in the handball association also thinks the state must contribute more. – Should Norway make more arrangements for major championships, such as the hockey World Cup or the handball World Cup? – Yes, both hockey, handball, basketball, volleyball and major tennis tournaments, says the handball top. – Some of what we are experiencing with the current government is that you should look at the possibility of hosting large events, and then the dilemma is that you do not have that arena and then it stops itself. – Very sad. Both refer to the Hurdal platform, where it is stated, among other things, that the government’s aim is: “To equip and build more sports facilities and create a national plan for sports facilities together with the sports movement”. “Make arrangements for Norway to also host major international sporting events in the future”. – The Ministry of Culture is at least consistent. But this is a violation of the government’s goal in the Hurdal platform that Norway will host major international championships, concludes hockey top Pettersen. HANDBALL PRESIDENT: Kåre Geir Lio. Photo: Stine Løvmo Lie / news The handball president completely agrees. – If they believe that we should organize, then they can arrange for events. Either by building halls, or by supporting the development of arenas. And when it doesn’t match, I think it’s very sad, is Lio’s judgement. – Silly claim Culture and equality minister Anette Trettebergstuen (Ap) welcomes more championships, and believes it is wrong that Norway is a parasite nation. – We share the desire to achieve this in the future, even if it is a priority we could not do now. We have also given money to international championships while we have been in government. We spend money on the World Ski Championships in Trondheim, both last year and this year. We have given money to the WC in rallycross, the EC in air force and the EC in weightlifting, so this is a silly claim, she says to news. ANSWERS: Minister of Culture and Equality Anette Trettebergstuen (Ap). Photo: Tuva Åserud / NTB Trettebergstuen does not agree with the fact that the last two rejections do not correspond to the aforementioned goals of the Hurdal platform. grandstands that disappear, for example, so it does not contribute to a lasting boost to the sport. We prioritize building sports facilities in cities and towns across the country, but these are facilities that should also benefit ordinary people, states the Minister for Culture and Equality.
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Believes Norway is about to become a “double standards parasite nation” – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcast schedule
