Heiberg Dismisses Oslo Row Over IOC Red Carpet Treatment

(ATR) Gerhard Heiberg has minimized concerns from Norwegian politicians about the IOC’s demands on potential Olympic host cities.

With applicant files from the 2022 bids due to the IOC on March 14, debate is raging among politicians in the IOC member’s native Norway about the set of requirements in the host city contract that the successful 2022 bidder will be obliged to sign.

Politicians have scoffed at the IOC’s VIP demands for the Games, including accommodation in five-star hotels and chauffeur-driven cars for IOC members during the Games, in comments made to national radio station NRK1.

The row was sparked by the release of the IOC’s host city requirements last week by the Oslo 2022 bid after officials said there was no reason to keep them secret. Stian Berger Røsland, the head of Oslo’s city government, told NRK: "The goal was to remove the uncertainty that their secrecy created."

Heiberg insisted the debate was a normal part of the democratic process and similar discussions had taken place before Lillehammer successfully bid for the 1994 Winter Games.

"People have been worried about what the IOC would like to see happening in the host country. People are sceptical about the IOC, so there are always discussions… should we apply for 2022?," he said.

He denied that the row marked a distinct lack of enthusiasm on the part of the Norwegian Parliament to back the bid.

"Absolutely not. This is part of Norwegian democracy. People have different opinions… some people like the IOC and some people hate the IOC," he told ATR.

The outgoing IOC marketing commission chairman added: "This debate will go on for quite some time until Norway decides whether to go for 2022 or not."

While government support hangs in the balance, Oslo 2022 also currently lacks public backing. A new opinion poll in the Norwegian tabloid Verdens Gang on Thursday revealed that 56 percent of Norwegians were opposed to Oslo’s Olympic ambitions; 77.8 percent of residents of Northern Norway were not in favor of the city staging the Winter Games.

Oslo 2022 had hoped the 26 medals won by Norway at the Sochi 2014 Games would have increased public support.

Heiberg said Oslo 2022 is on track to deliver its applicant file to the IOC on March 14. The city’s mayor is set to travel to Lausanne to hand over the bid documents.

"In the meantime the debate will go on until parliament makes a decision," Heiberg said, adding that be believed the government would green light the bid in the autumn.

Written by Mark Bisson.

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