– It is strange and unmusical that you pass him by again, says VG’s commentator Leif Welhaven to news. – Now I’m just in despair, writes Nettavisen’s commentator Ernst A. Lersveen. – That Johan Kaggestad is still being passed over is unbelievable, writes Lars Tjærnås on X. – I completely agree with all those who say that Kaggestad deserved that award, says Dag-Otto Lauritzen to Dagbladet. – He would have been a particularly worthy award winner, says news’s sports commentator Jan Petter Saltvedt. There are some of the many who have become involved after the honorary award was handed out at Saturday’s sports gala. Seriously ill “Now the knight should be honoured!”, wrote Welhaven before last year’s sports gala, but then the award went to Marit Breivik. This year, Cato Zahl Pedersen received the honorary award. AWARD OF THE YEAR: Cato Zahl Pedersen proudly poses with the award. Photo: Ole Martin Wold / NTB – There is nothing wrong with the award winners, they are both worthy winners. They are people who could have received the award in a completely different year, says Welhaven. Johan Kaggestad was national team coach in athletics for several seasons. Among other things, he trained Ingrid Kristiansen and Grete Waitz. COACH: Johan Kaggestad and Ingrid Kristiansen pictured at Bislett in 1991. Photo: Lasse Evensen / NTB He has been a central figure in Norwegian sports for a number of years, and in recent years is best known as TV 2’s cycling commentator. In 2012, he was knighted by the French Order of Arts and Letters for his coverage of the Tour de France cycling race. In recent years he has been seriously ill. – I don’t have long left, but I’m not dead yet, Johan Kaggestad told Dagbladet in December 2022. – He is a seriously ill man who has done so much for so many over a long period of time. The opportunity was there now, but you don’t know how long it will be there, says VG commentator Welhaven. – There is no one who does not believe that Johan Kaggestad is a legend in Norwegian sports history. But it has to do with the most fundamental thing in top sport: It is bone-chilling competition, says news commentator Jan Petter Saltvedt. Winners of the honorary award These have received the honorary award at the Sports Gala: 2002 Arne Haukvik 2003 Nils Arne Eggen 2004 Rolf Sæterdal 2005 Knut Bjørnsen and Per Jorsett 2006 Stein Johnson 2007 Kjetil André Aamodt 2008 Grete Waitz 2009 Per Ravn Omdal 2010 Thor Ole Rimejorde 2011 HM King Harald V 2012 Norway Cup 2013 Hjalmar Andersen and Knut Johannesen 2014 Ridderrennet at Beitostølen 2015 Right to play and against 2016 Hege Riise 2017 Gerhard Heiberg 2018 Egil Olsen (Drillo) 2019 Marit Bjørgen and Ole Einar Bjørndalen 2020 Suzann Pettersen 2021 Rune Andersen 2022 Cato Zahl Pedersen Source: Norwegian Sports Confederation Øvrebø thanks you for your commitment The jury consists of seven people and is chaired by top sports manager Tore Øvrebø. In addition, Suzann Pettersen (golf), Hanne Haugland (athletics), Marit Bjørgen (cross-country skiing), Ola By Rise (football), Kjetil André Aamodt (alpine skiing) and Knut Holmann (paddling) sit on the jury. They stated in advance that they had gathered for three extensive meetings. – It is nice and natural that there is an interest in who gets the prizes at the sports gala. This year, the jury wanted to give the honorary prize to Cato Zahl Pedersen with the justification presented by the Prime Minister and the sports president during the sports gala. We think it stands up well, writes Øvrebø to news. He does not want to answer any other questions about the case. The jury’s rationale This is the rationale that was read out by sports president Zaineb Al-Samarai and Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre: This year’s honorary award goes to a person who has impressed and moved the nation over a period of more than 40 years. Both through work with matters of the heart and his ability to push boundaries. Throughout his adult life, the winner has been concerned with the possibilities and potential of the individual both in and outside of sport. This person is also one of the most successful athletes in Norwegian sports of all time. Despite a large number of international medals, the honorary prize winner has always spoken most warmly that it is the path to the results that is the great experience. The winner’s own expeditions and experiences are, to say the least, admirable. He has walked across the South Pole, climbed to the top of the world’s sixth highest mountain and almost reached the top of Mount Everest. He has impressively accomplished all this without arms.
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– Disrespectful – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcasting schedule
