– One might think that hockey is a very macho sport, very male-dominated and tough, so I was afraid that there would be reactions, says Ødegaard to news. – But there were disappointingly few reactions when I entered the dressing room, he jokes. news meets Ødegaard in the locker room of the Ringerike Panthers. Here he works as a masseuse on a voluntary basis. He has been doing that since 2017. Before that he had zero connection to ice hockey. – I had never been to a hockey match before. Then we got some free tickets to a match in 2017, and then it was done. We were sold. It’s great fun and full of action, says the masseuse about her and her husband’s newfound enthusiasm for the sport. RELEASES: – I switch off when I’m in work mode, says the masseuse. – I feel very safe here Even though Ødegaard is the only openly gay person in the club, he has not experienced any unpleasant situations because of his orientation, although he has been afraid of it: – Especially when I have been with my husband to matches , because we hold hands and kiss each other. Then you think about the reactions that may come. Hate crimes happen all the time, so I think about it a lot. But I never experienced anything. I don’t know if I’m lucky or if the hockey environment is more open and inclusive than you think, Ødegaard reflects, before adding: – I feel very safe here. But Ødegaard carries a fear. – Ever since I came out when I was 18-19 years old, I have been painfully aware that I am different. So things have become quite smooth and safe over the years. But then there was this shooting in Oslo a year and a half ago in 2022, which destroyed very, very much for me, says an honest 47-year-old. STRUGGLES WITH ANXIETY: – I am on guard all the time, an open-hearted Ødegaard tells news. But in the ice hockey club he feels safe. He and his husband had been at the crime scene in Rosenkrantz’ gate in Oslo one hour before the attack occurred on 25 June 2022, where two men were killed and 23 were injured. The Pride parade and the Pride park festival arena the following day were cancelled. The only place Ødegaard felt completely safe. – Then it was taken from us. It cost me a lot. I have been very afraid and had a lot of anxiety related to it in the years after that. – How has it been having the Ringerike ice hockey club then? – This is my number one refuge. This is where I come when I’m not feeling well elsewhere. For example, I can get really anxious if someone walks behind me in a shopping centre, which some people often do in a shopping centre, explains Ødegaard and continues: – Then I come here. The whole environment and the club is a sanctuary. They are very accepting and everyone is very welcome. The guys are grateful, happy and jovial, and there is an absolutely fantastic atmosphere here. INCLUDING: Ødegaard praises the players at the club. Hope for visible role models Panthers player Sebastian Åkesson is delighted to have Ødegaard in the support apparatus. – Tomas is extremely important to us. He helps us keep our bodies in shape. If we have any problems, we can always come to him, he always stands up. – he is also a great guy to have in the dressing room, who spreads joy and energy, says Åkesson to news. – Do you think anything about the direction? – No I do not. Tomas is one of us, and he can be exactly as he wants, notes Åkesson. GOOD MOOD: The laughter is loose in the dressing room for Sebastian Åkesson and the other Panthers players. There are no openly gay male ice hockey players at the top level in Norway. Ødegaard hopes that will change. – I have spoken to a couple of people who play hockey at the highest level in Norway. I understand very well that they choose to be hidden. It is perhaps mostly about the fact that one is afraid that the atmosphere in the dressing room will change. But I wish they dared. I think it would have done the sport good to have some visible role models. Not least for the young people who come after. – Are you a role model in the wardrobe? – I hope that I might be able to help. I can tell there is never a theme. No one has been negative in any way or said anything bad to me. Pink competence boost General manager of Ringerike Panthers Janka Aasen says they don’t think about Ødegaard’s attitude on a daily basis – but having an openly gay person in the club has positive ripple effects. – Tomas is a big part of the club and means a lot to us, says Aasen and adds: – We are very keen on inclusion and diversity, and have been involved in Pride locally for three years. The club has also undergone Rosa Kompetanse, a teaching course from Oslo Pride on gender and sexuality diversity. Now all the elite series clubs for women and men have entered into a partnership with Oslo Pride. In the first week of February, the hockey halls in Norway will be filled with pride flags, and Pride week will be held in Stavanger. THE COLORS OF THE RAINBOW: 2,000–3,000 flags for different orientations are ready for Pride week in Stavanger. The goal is more diversity and inclusion, so that everyone will feel at home in ice hockey. – Our message is extremely simple. We don’t want to take a political stand, but we say simply: love who you want and be who you want. You are warmly welcome into ice hockey and the ice hockey family, says commercial manager in Norwegian top hockey Thomas Hallem Kristiansen to news, Cato Cocozza, general manager in Elitehockey, points out that too many queers drop out of the sport: – We see in research that more shadows the pitch when they feel they don’t quite fit in. Ice hockey, like many other sports, does not have that many to lose. Especially on the men’s side, we see that many disappear. We want to do something about this and talk to the young people and show that everyone is welcome here – both the audience and the players. Oslo Pride leader Dan Bjørke applauds ice hockey’s efforts. – We have worked with sports for a number of years and have never seen such extensive cooperation, where the players, the clubs, the fans – everyone is involved. With attitude campaigns and competence courses. There is a whole here that is quite unique, he says to news. COLLABORATION: Thomas Hallem Kristiansen in Norwegian top hockey is happy about the collaboration with Oslo Pride. Photo: Terje Haugnes / news
ttn-69
Fear and anxiety characterize Tomas’ everyday life – ice hockey has become a safe haven – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcasting schedule
