Holmenkollen events to take place without spectators

The local authorities of Oslo (Oslo Municipality, Norwegian Department of Health and Norwegian Institute of Public Health) have decided that the Holmenkollen Skifestival, which unites all three Nordic disciplines of Cross-Country Skiing, Nordic Combined and Ski Jumping, will take place without spectators. This is a safety precaution due to the current global outbreak of the COVID-19 virus.

The decision was made only in the afternoon and announced by the organisers at a press conference with Kristin Saeteroey, General Manager Holmenkollen Skifestival, Ingvild Bretten Berg, Secretary General of the Norwegian Ski Association, and Terje Lund, Event Manager of the Norwegian Ski Association, on Thursday evening.

As the Association announced, the competition from Friday to Sunday will be held as planned, but spectators will not have access to the venue on the Holmenkollen.

"The Norwegian Ski Association will, of course, adhere to the decisions of the health authorities, but at the same time we want to express that this is a very unfortunate situation for all the athletes and spectators who were looking forward to the traditional Holmenkollen Skifestival this weekend", said Ingvild Bretten Berg.