One has a broad background as a business leader and has been sports president for four years. Berit Kjøll lives on Nesøya near Asker, but she has pointed out that she actually comes from simple circumstances in Vestfold. The other has a background as an Ap politician and communications advisor. Zaineb Al-Samarai came as a refugee from Iraq as a seven-year-old. Today she lives at Karlsrud, east of Oslo. This weekend it will be decided which of them will win. These two are fighting to become sports president. Both have sat on the board at the top of the Norwegian Sports Confederation for the past four years. There, the two have dealt with the same cases. When they met in Debatten on news at the beginning of May, they received criticism from several quarters afterwards. Because you got the answer to what they really wanted with Norwegian sport, and is there any difference? Clearer answers were called for. news therefore asked the two candidates five identical questions. Question: If you have to choose one: What is your fighting cause for Norwegian sports? Kjøll: – It is that all children and young people have the opportunity to play organized sports. That there is no obstacle to that. And that there are enough facilities for that. Al-Samarai: – More with longer. I want children, young people and adults to have a good range of activities. Then we must have better clubs, better finances and more facilities. Over the past six months, it has become clear to clubs in various parts of the country that more and more are having problems paying for children’s sports. This now also applies to “ordinary” families with a house and a job. Question: What measures do you think should be implemented to ensure that everyone can participate in Norwegian sports regardless of finances? Kjøll: – The most important thing is what we can do in sport. What all special associations and all clubs do to ensure that there are good arrangements. And that we can ensure that children and young people have the opportunity to participate, says Kjøll. Kjøll will look at the most important cost drivers in sport; training fees, travel and equipment. – Here, a lot is done very well in sport today, in all special associations and all clubs and teams, says Kjøll. She also wants to put in place leisure fund schemes in all municipalities, which means that sports clubs and sports councils have a point of contact, which means that they can get access to a pot of money. This will again ensure that all children and young people can participate. But she points out that it is the authorities’ responsibility and that they work hard against the authorities. Al-Samarai: – I believe that a lot of good is being done today by our special associations and circles. And our clubs take it very well. I think we should do more from the sports side, says Al-Samarai. She also believes that the state, municipality and county council must contribute so that more children and young people can participate. – This is a social responsibility and not just the responsibility of sport. I also believe that we must work to bring in more private companies as well, says Al-Samarai. Equipment hysteria and increasing price tags for doing sports have been a topic for many years. Now the Oslo Sports Circle wants measures to curb a professionalisation gallop. Several, including Petter Northug, are concerned about the development. Question: Specifically, what have you personally done in your position to curb the price-chasing in sports over the past four years? Kjøll: – What we have done from the sports board’s side is to address this, put it on the agenda, discuss and make good decisions, says Kjøll. She believes that all sports teams turn every stone almost every day to ensure that all children and young people can participate. – One thing is what we do from the sports board’s side towards the authorities. Another thing is how we systematically work towards all the special associations, says Kjøll. Kjøll says that meetings have been held with 53 special union leaders, where she has challenged them and asked what they are doing in this area. She feels that the whole of Norwegian sport is extremely concerned with the problem. – Sports circles, sports teams, special associations jointly and NIF centrally must ensure that we are able to live up to the vision of enjoyment of sport for all. And it obliges in all directions. Al-Samarai: – We have done a lot, but we have not done enough. Because the challenge is much greater today than when we were elected at the time, says Al-Samarai. She points out that there has been a corona crisis, an electricity crisis and an increasing challenge with finances as a barrier. – So what we have to do now is look ahead to what we can do more of in the future. For now, economics as a barrier is not something that is only a problem in Oslo East. It is a problem throughout Norway and for the man in the street. Without voluntary efforts, Idretts-Norge stops, the Swedish Sports Confederation has itself pointed out. Now there is danger on the way after the pandemic. Sports clubs have reported that they are increasingly struggling to get volunteers. This has happened at the same time that membership numbers have also fallen. Question: Figures show that Norwegian sports are getting fewer and fewer volunteers. How will you contribute to reversing that trend? Kjøll: – What we have to do from the side of Norwegian sports is to ensure that it is attractive. That it is simple and that it should not be too bureaucratic systems, reports. We must make it easier for the sports teams, so that it becomes more attractive to be a volunteer. Kjøll points out that volunteering has changed. Fewer people want to take on tasks that take a long time and last for a long time. She sees that it is more attractive to attend a single event. – I also believe that making it attractive for young people to volunteer. Make it so that being a volunteer becomes a bonus, precisely to gain “cred” for it towards studies later in life. We have to think creatively and think differently about volunteering, says Kjøll. Al-Samarai: – We have to make volunteering fun and easy. We must make it meaningful to be allowed to participate. Because that’s what it is. I think it is important that we in Norwegian sports work to professionalize parts of the clubs so that they are able to accept all the volunteers who want to be involved and give them meaningful tasks, says Al-Samarai. She is clear that the focus must be on young people. – There are many young people who stop being active athletes, but who could imagine being involved in sports further on. So using them to a greater extent through being role models in their local environment and helping to build up their local environment through volunteering in the sport, I think will be important in the future, says Al-Samarai. It has been 29 years since the last Olympics were held in Norway. In the meantime, several projects have been scrapped. At the same time, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is constantly criticized as an organisation. Question: Should Norway be allowed to host the Olympics? Why/why not? Kjøll: – It is natural that Norway, as one of the world’s leading sports nations, also assumes responsibility for organizing whether it is a major international event, whether it is the Olympics or the Paralympics. So I think it lies there as a responsibility. So the answer to that is yes, says Kjøll. However, she points out that sports, politicians and most people must want an Olympics or Paralympics in Norway. – We think the timing is completely wrong now, says Kjøll. Al-Samarai: – I think that an Olympics for Norway would have been very nice. But now is not the time for that. We will not organize an Olympics if we do not have public opinion or the politicians with us. In addition, we have a lot to do for our clubs, special associations and circles in the future. And that is where the focus should be. Sunday 4 June, by 2 p.m., the presidential race will be decided.
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What differentiates the presidential candidates? news asked them five questions – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcasting schedule
