Norwegian Olympic Museum Opens to Fanfare

(ATR) Norway has a new shrine to Olympic heroes past, present and future.

Queen Sonja declared open the new Norwegian Olympic Museum in Lillehammer, a dynamic, interactive experience that takes visitors from ancient Olympia through the 2016 Youth Olympic Games beginning Friday at the nearby Lysgardsbakkene Ski Jumping Arena.

While plenty of space is devoted to the hugely successful 1994 Lillehammer Winter Olympics – with a mannequin of ski jumping gold medalist Esper Bredesen soaring over the displays -- the museum also highlights the 1952 Oslo Games and Norwegian Olympic champions and medalists from both winter and summer Games.

"The museum is a sanctuary for the present and past," the Queen said, noting that it wants to commemorate and pay homage to "all men and women who have dedicated their lives to competition and good sportsmanship for Norway in winter and summer sports. In this museum, we will be able to meet the heroes of yesterday and today and perhaps tomorrow.

"I’m sure it will become a new attraction in this beautiful part of Norway which has served as a venue for so many spectacular sporting events over the years."

Hundreds of people, including dignitaries, Olympic champions and sports fans, attended the opening gala. Trumpeter Ole Edvard Antonsen, who also appeared at the 1994 Games, played the Olympic Fanfare and children danced to the official YOG theme song.

The Norges Olympiske Museum originally opened in 1997 at Haakon’s Hall, the 1994 ice hockey venue. Fifteen years later, museum officials recognized that it was outdated and less attractive to visitors. Seeking a complete modernization of the facility, they were inspired by the Olympic Museum in Lausanne. Some of the same designers went to work on the project, with the museum moving to Maihaugen, a site already known for its large open-air museum.

Funded by 15 million Krone from the Norwegian government, the museum vowed to be open in time for the Youth Olympic Games. Workers accomplished the task in eight months.

Like its prototype in Lausanne, the museum is packed with medals, uniforms, equipment, torches, posters and other artifacts. It begins with sections on ancient Olympia and modern Games founder Pierre de Coubertin before branching out to show Norway’s own winter heritage. Athletes from Sonja Henie, the iconic figure skater, to Grete Waitz, the long distance runner, are showcased.

On a miniature ski jump in the center of the main room, film footage is projected, including a clip of former IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch proclaiming Lillehammer "the best Olympic Winter Games ever."

The best interactive feature is a biathlon test in which visitors must stomp their feet for the cross country portion, then shoot targets, which is not as easy as it looks.

Cross country skier Bjørn Dæhlie, moguls skier Stine Lise Hattestad and Bredesen greeted the Queen and Crown Princess Mette-Marit.

Bredesen said it was "a great honor" to be immortalized in flight in the museum. "It was a great historical moment for Lillehammer."

The museum "makes sure we never forget our Olympic history," said Tom Tvedt, president of the Norwegian Olympic and Paralympic Committee and Confederation of Sports. He added that the "legacy left behind by the Youth Olympic Games will be equally important for future generations."

Tvedt said the museum "shows the IOC our Norwegian Olympic pride. We are a sports loving nation."

That includes its Queen, who has attended 11 Olympic Games. She was inspired seeing Stein Eriksen win the giant slalom in Oslo when she was just 14 years old.

The future queen then spent part of her honeymoon in Mexico City in 1968 while her husband, now King Harald, competed in sailing. He stayed in the Olympic Village, while she "stayed in the hotel in Acapulco with his family," Queen Sonja said to applause. "It was my honeymoon – the one and only."

Although all the Games have been special, she added, "I must admit the Games at Lillehammer were quite extraordinary."

The Queen received a "wonderful" IOC coat from former president Juan Antonio Samaranch. "As I am not a member of the IOC, I should not wear it," she said, "but I still do."

She recalled that "the air was ice cold and beautifully clear and we all remember how we were freezing. Lillehammer was the center of the world’s attention and the athletes and the Olympic organization were at their best."

IOC President Thomas Bach, wearing a new edition of the IOC coat, said it was special to share the museum opening with so many Olympians in attendance. "For them it gives goosebumps to relive the Olympic victories and Olympic achievements once more, he said.

Bach added that "now you can build the Olympic future" starting with the YOG on Friday. "From what we can see, it will be a great success, a great inspiration to the young athletes and we all will be inspired."

Written by Karen Rosenin Lillehammer

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