Audience Fled Before Nordic Combined Athletes Were to Compete – FIS Official Criticizes Norwegian Fans

Audience Fled Before Nordic Combined Athletes Were to Compete – FIS Official Criticizes Norwegian Fans

During a recent event in Lillehammer, as soon as Johannes Høsflot Klæbo won the sprint, a significant number of spectators began vacating the stadium. This incident has drawn criticism from FIS official Lasse Ottesen, who noted that such a situation would not occur in Central European countries.

Critical Remarks from FIS Official

Ottesen remarked on the rarity of such behavior, stating, "I have never experienced this in other countries." He mentioned that 95% of the audience left the venue within twenty minutes before the women’s cross-country race, expressing disbelief that the local audience would not support stars like Ida Marie Hagen and Jarl Magnus Riiber, who are among the world's best competitors.

Insights from Event Organizers

Per Olav Andersen, the chairman of the organizing committee, echoed Ottesen's sentiments, struggling to comprehend the mass exodus, saying, "This is difficult to understand. The program for both cross-country and Nordic combined races was the same, and the athletes undoubtedly deserve recognition."

Ida Marie Hagen, who won the Nordic combined event despite the dwindling crowd, acknowledged hearing cheers from those present but hoped for more audience engagement. Jarl Magnus Riiber, also a winner, noted a lack of festive atmosphere among the crowd, suggesting that music or entertainment could help attract more spectators.

Conclusion

Overall, while the performances of the athletes were celebrated, the lack of audience support during the Nordic combined event provoked critical reactions from officials and organizers alike, sparking a conversation about what could be done to enhance audience engagement at such competitions.