– As long as the system is as it is, we have decided in the board that we will not organize a trip to the Olympics, says Sigvard Magelssen, who is the leader of the Friends of Handball. The classic cowbells that usually ring out when the handball girls and boys are in action cannot be heard in the French capital. In the stands, there is also a long way between the Norwegian flags. Norway, who were already ready for the quarter-finals, won big against Germany in the last match of the group stage. Norway’s Henny Reistad played great against Germany and scored eight goals. She has also noticed that there are fewer Norwegian supporters in the stands than normal. Due to injury, she has had to watch Norway’s first two games from the stands. INJURY: Henny Reistad has had to follow the first two Norwegian games from the stands due to an ankle injury she suffered before the Olympics. Photo: Beate Oma Dahle / NTB – No, there haven’t been that many cowbells. It is clear that there have not been as many Norwegians in the stands as you might be used to in other championships, but then we are very well used to it, says the 25-year-old. The prices are one of the reasons why the Friends of Handball do not prioritize the Olympics in Paris. – Those are absolutely crazy prices. I have rained a little rough on it. If we were to travel to Paris and watch all the men’s and women’s matches with opening rounds, quarter-finals, semi-finals, bronze finals and finals, it would cost one person approx. NOK 75,000. It’s completely gone overnight, idiotic, says Magelssen to news. Who Norway will meet in the quarter-finals will only be decided after the match between Denmark and South Korea, which starts at 21:00. I think there will be few Norwegians. According to him, a ticket that gives space for the match between Norway and France and the match between Argentina and Hungary costs NOK 2,750 in category B. If you want to see all the opening matches for the Norwegian men, which are five matches, you would it cost NOK 12,610. Magelssen emphasizes that they always buy tickets in category A, which are on the long side of the arena. BOYCOTT: Sigvard IR Magelssen in Handball’s Friends is not traveling to the Olympics in Paris. Photo: Morten Andersen/news – It costs far too much. It is not possible to arrange a trip when the ticket costs alone are NOK 75,000. So there will be little Norwegian life, I think. The organizer in Paris argues that the prices are in line with other major championships around the world. – We have maintained our duty to reasonable prices with ticket prices from 24 euros (286 kroner) and half of the tickets for 50 euros (595 kroner) or less, says a spokesperson from the organiser. They underline above news that a third of the budget for the Olympics is ticket sales, which is why some very expensive tickets are also sold at 980 euros (11,671 kroner) to subsidize the cheaper tickets. Had to cancel But the ticket price is not the only reason why the otherwise lively supporters have boycotted the Olympics since London in 2012. DENMARK: Our neighbors to the south dominated the stands in the match between Norway and Denmark. Photo: Frode Søreide / news It is not possible to order more than four tickets at a time, which means that the group cannot sit together. – We would have liked to have been there, but I don’t think we would have had participants. We tried in the Olympics in Rio in 2016, but it still ended with 25 participants and then we had to cancel the whole thing. He says there are many who have traveled to 30-40 events. – And they want to sit together with those they know. That ticket system is completely hopeless, it comes from the Norwegian supporter. The local organizer claims this has been done to ensure that everyone has a chance to get tickets. Understand the frustration Reistad and the other Norwegian handball girls understand the frustration of their loyal supporters. – It is very boring. We need their support as much as possible, so we appreciated it for all championships. It is of course a shame, but I fully understand that it is difficult to achieve. THE OLYMPIC CITY: Nora Mørk and Henny Reistad on a stroll in the Olympic village in Paris. Photo: Fredrik Varfjell / NTB – I also have family who have tried and looked at tickets and they are expensive. Then I realized that it hasn’t been so clear either, so I understand them very well. But there are an incredible number of people at the matches and we are happy about that, says Nora Mørk to news. The prices, however, do not seem to have frightened the international public. The arena holds around 6,000 spectators, and has mostly been full. JUBILEE: Norwegian jubilation after the Norwegian handball girls beat Denmark. Photo: Beate Oma Dahle / NTB – I am very surprised. Even in the early matches that start at nine o’clock, there are usually not that many people, so there has been a fantastic atmosphere, believes the Norwegian goalkeeper, Katrine Lunde, who is participating in her fifth Olympics. Magelssen, who also has countless championships behind him on the stands, still feels what is happening at home from the go’stolen. – Well then, it will work. But it’s not the same as having it live then. A bit boring. Published 03.08.2024, at 20.27 Updated 03.08.2024, at 21.29
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– Totally lost in the night idiotically – Olympics Paris 2024
