Halvor Egner Granerud Gives Up Sponsorship Space for Para Athletes – Aims to Help with Prize Money

– I fundamentally think this should have been taken care of from the start, says Halvor Egner Granerud to NRK.

The World Championships in Trondheim will mark the first time para athletes participate in a conventional ski championship. With just over four months until the event begins, it remains uncertain whether para athletes will receive prize money for their competitions.

– I reacted, like many others, by saying it’s unacceptable. This needs to be fixed. It can’t be this way, says Granerud.

Therefore, the ski jumping star has taken matters into his own hands. He wishes to donate a sponsorship spot on his jumping suit, with the funds going directly to the prize pool for para athletes.

– This is my contribution, and I hope to gather some funds that can be helpful. It feels right, says he.

Granerud’s initiative has been met with enthusiasm by para ski star Vilde Nilsen.
– First and foremost, I think it’s incredibly generous of him to do something like this, says Nilsen to NRK.

With a trophy cabinet filled with World Championship golds and four overall victories in the World Cup since 2019, she is one of Norway's biggest hopes in para events at the home World Championships. The 23-year-old makes it clear that the absence of prize money is an issue that would not occur for able-bodied athletes.

– We nearly have to beg for funding. But I think what’s happening now illustrates that para athletes are not treated as equals to able-bodied athletes. Everything that’s happening now really highlights the issue, says Nilsen.

Granerud's idea comes as a pleasant surprise to Nilsen, as it is uncommon for a ski jumper to lead such an initiative.

– That it comes from a jumper is somewhat special, but also incredibly commendable.
– Why is that?
– I had hoped that some other prominent cross-country profiles could join in and do something similar. So the fact that it’s a ski jumper taking this step is quite surprising. But it shows he has a good heart for everyone in the community, particularly the para athletes, says Vilde Nilsen.

The ski championships have on two occasions sought support from the Ministry of Culture and Equality, but their latest application for 2.5 million kroner for prize money for para athletes was denied at the end of September.

Championship director Åge Skinstad expresses appreciation for Granerud's initiative and admits he feels emotionally touched by what Granerud is doing.

– Just the fact that Halvor is doing this shows commitment. We have always said we will ensure that para athletes receive proper prize money, says Skinstad.

He explains that the challenge arose because para events were added to the program after the budget was set. Any potential surplus will go towards broadening and developing work within the Norwegian Ski Federation and Sør-Trøndelag Ski Club, which will also benefit para sports, Skinstad points out.

Thus, they need to go out into the market to find funding for the prize money for para athletes, a task Skinstad is committed to fulfilling.

So far, for example, nearly 50,000 kroner has been raised in donations for the Trondheim World Championships.

Ski jumper Halvor Egner Granerud hopes his initiative can give a further push towards securing funds for para athletes.

– I believe it has a positive effect, as it now shows the disparities in sports. And it will be even more visible since we will compete in the same place, at the same championship. It should be as equal as possible.

Published 10.10.2024, at 08:01 Updated 10.10.2024, at 08:57