Scandal Under the Ski Jump in Lillehammer: "You're Arming Murderers"

Exciting scenes unfolded in Lillehammer after the completion of the qualifications for the Sunday World Cup ski jumping competition. Following the end of the sporting event, protesters appeared at the ski jump to draw attention to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Videos of the incident were shared on social media by TVP Sport journalist Michał Chmielewski.

"Protesters regarding Palestinian freedom appeared at the jump after the qualifications. They are carrying a banner criticizing Nammo, a sponsor of the Norwegian team. They shout, 'You're arming murderers,'" wrote Chmielewski on portal X.

Protests at the Lillehammer Ski Jump

Nammo is a Norwegian-Finnish company specializing in ammunition production and space technology. Amnesty International has criticized the presence of the company’s logo on the helmets of Norwegian ski jumpers, considering it inappropriate in the context of global armed conflicts. The Norwegian Ski Federation faced criticism for ignoring the ethical implications of promoting weapons.

Frank Conde Tanderg, a political advisor at Amnesty International, expressed outrage during an NRK television interview. He emphasized that with Norwegian ammunition being used in conflicts like the one in Gaza, the presence of a firearms manufacturer's logo on athletes' helmets is highly inappropriate.

Halvor Egner Granerud, a Norwegian ski jumper, stated he does not see a problem with it, emphasizing the importance of Nammo as a sponsor supporting their aerodynamics.

"The factory helps fulfill Norway's commitments to NATO, and for us, it is an important sponsor supporting us in terms of aerodynamics," he explained.

The protesters did not disrupt the qualifications and likely do not plan to interrupt the afternoon individual competition. This should be distinguished from various other protests that have interfered with the organization of different events, not just sports.