Kristine Stavås Skistad Fears NRK’s New World Championship Gimmick: ‘It’s a Crisis’

A new twist at the Ski World Championships in Trondheim has sparked controversy among the athletes. As part of the medal ceremony, winners will be required to step up to a gold microphone on stage and speak directly to a large live audience – and the message must partly be delivered in English, as the broadcast reaches international viewers.

Cross-country skiing star Kristine Stavås Skistad, whose main goal is success in the sprint event at the championships, was visibly taken aback at the news. “No! Do you mean that? This is a crisis,” she exclaimed upon hearing the details. She explained that having to express her feelings in English is extremely challenging for her, calling her skills in the language “terrible” and questioning how she can convey the depth of her emotions in a language she is not comfortable with.

Not all athletes share her concern. In the Swedish training camp, reactions were mixed. Sprint specialist Maja Dahlqvist, one of Skistad’s main rivals, said she is well-prepared and has even grown accustomed to speaking in English – a shift that, according to her, is not a problem at all.

Other competitors, including ski jumpers and combined event athletes like Edvin Anger and Heidi Weng, have also voiced their opinions, ranging from cautious optimism to outright concern about how this new measure will affect the athletes’ performances and the overall atmosphere of the medal ceremonies.

The new “gold microphone” initiative, introduced by NRK, is set to become a regular part of the championships. While it has stirred debate among athletes, some see it as a refreshing way to add energy to traditionally subdued ceremonies. As the first medal events unfold in the heart of Trondheim, all eyes will be on how these international language demands play out on the world stage.