The Norwegian Ski Association is losing significant sponsorship agreements, which affects its economy.
The Finnish Ski Association has long been in financial difficulties, but even in the great country in Norway, the money is starting to be tight.
NRK reported already in the summerthat the Norwegian Ski Association would even be on the verge of bankruptcy. It is now decided to apply for savings by closing Junior and B national teams after this season.
Monthly companies Equinor and Sparebank 1 are not renewing their sponsorship agreements and no partners of the same size have been found.
– We do not have enough funding for these teams. The decision was difficult, but natural. And it had to do now, the national team manager Ulf Morten Aune quoth To VG magazine.
From the junior team to the World Cup, for example Andreas Fjorden Ree, Håvard Moseby and Nora Sannes.
The ski star of the past years Petter Northug He criticized the union’s decision and demanded that savings be sought elsewhere.
– If you have to save something, it is the management of the union. It has grown far too big. It should consist of people who care about skiing. The change must happen now, not in a few years, Northug said.
Northug also demanded that new sponsors be found quickly to continue the junior skiers’ national team training. He also described the union’s marketing department as “perhaps the weakest in history”.
Cross -country ski boss Cathrine InstEbö said he appreciated Northug’s comments.
– He has a lot of experience in skiing and the work of the Norwegian Ski Association, and his opinion is valuable. That’s why I want to invite him for coffee to talk about it, Instbö said.
Norwegian national team’s contemporary team Pål Golfg Understands the closure of the junior team in the current economic situation.
– Larger species take over visibility, and skiing is more difficult to see on television. We are left behind in the sponsorship market. If companies are in trouble, we will be cut first, Golberg ponders.
Golberg also believes that one could afford to cut the union’s great administration. According to him, the national team functions could no longer afford to weaken.
Golberg also hopes that John Kläbon and Kristine Skistad Stars like that would practice with the national team as it would make the national team more interesting in the eyes of partners.
Golfg also needs more top cross -country skiing outside Norway to make the sport more interesting to follow.