June 14 India Last month, around 200 Norwegian coaches and athletes gathered in Gran Canaria, Spain, for a training session. It included the nation's chances for the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics next year from every field, with the exception of biathlon.

Although this comprehensive gathered foundation may have only served for the basic training of athletes, the concept of cross-functional knowledge sharing is rather unusual in Norway and in the way sports federations function in the 5.5 million-person nation.

"Given the size, this model won't be applicable in every nation. It's exclusive to Norway—a kind of center that facilitates athlete interaction and mutual learning—"Tore Ovrebo, Olympiatoppen's sports director, told HT. The Norwegian Sports Federation's elite sports program, Olympiatoppen, is in charge of overseeing Norway's preparation for and performance in the Olympics and Paralympics.

The model guaranteed that Norway not only emerged as the top-performing nation at the last three Winter Games, but also won twice as many medals as at the Summer Olympics in Tokyo in 2021 and Paris in 2024, with eight medals each, compared to four in Rio in 2016. The number of gold medals increased from zero in Rio to four in Tokyo and Paris.

Eight medals are not at all impressive. However, it is notable that a nation with more experience in the Winter Games finished 18th at the Paris Olympics. For context, India ranked 71st with six medals.

Ovrebo notes a trend in relation to Norway and the Olympics, with several sports (such as triathlon) transitioning from Tokyo to Paris and others attracting the world's attention. Norway's diffusion in Paris also included handball, weightlifting, sailing, volleyball, and wrestling, even if athletics (two golds, one silver) are notable in that. The nation also boasts players of chess, golf, tennis, and football of the highest caliber.

"Some sports have risen to a high level, and that has inspired others," Ovrebo stated.

Ironically, a decrease in their influence at the Winter Olympics was the impetus for Norway's comprehensive, all-season sports initiative. Norway did not take home a single gold medal in the 1988 edition. Ovrebo referred to it as "a national catastrophe." It

forced the nation to inject professionalism into athletics and change the "blazer people" who manage federations for "training gear people." Ovrebo, an Olympic rower who has led Norway's elite sports program since 2013, is one instance. The 1994 Winter Games were hosted by Norway, which also helped create a model that encouraged more individuals to participate in the sports ecosystem and facilitated cross-functionality.

"Everyone started working together and established a system that is still working," stated Ovrebo. More than 9,000 clubs are located in the center of that system, where many children spend time and their parents volunteer to help out.

"Ovrebo stated, "So, a very big part of our population is involved in sports."

Children are urged to participate in a variety of sports from an early age and to avoid developing a mindset that is focused on specific sports and results. "It can be challenging when results are no longer there if you specialize too early and begin to see yourself through results. We want them to excel, but not early on."

Norway's wealth is, of course, advantageous, and sports are not a means of escaping poverty, as they are in India. Wealth aids in investing in first-rate sports infrastructure, and business organizations are equally keen to contribute.

"Most of our finances come from the business community. It has worked well for three decades, but we need to work hard to keep it up," stated Ovrebo.

Talent in clubs and schools is recognized through the Norwegian federation's regional centers as young athletes mature and focus on a specific sport. These centers begin enrolling individuals aged 15 to 19 into the junior national setup. Athletes are free to work with their own coaches outside ofGran Canaria, although camps like that are occasionally planned. Ovrebo and his team stay in regular contact with the coaches regarding the athlete's progress and roadmap. Coach development initiatives are also a significant aspect of their work.

Some elite athletes utilize Olympiatoppen's high-performance center in Oslo occasionally, but not often. It does, however, consistently offer expert personnel, such as trainers, physicians, and physiotherapists. "We share our specialists with the various sports federations, which also makes it cost effective for them," Ovrebo stated.

It is a mostly internal and inclusive system that does not require talent to seek out coaching or training opportunities outside of Norway.

"We don't like that model," Ovrebo stated. "Still, it's an individualistic judgement."

Three years ago, when they first met the future hosts, Ovrebo and his team started preparing for the 2028 LA Olympics. To support the integrated system, planning begins long before. Furthermore, the model is strengthened by Norway's production of Olympic champions in the decathlon (Markus Rooth) and the 1500m/5000m (Jakob Ingebrigtsen) along the way.

"You don't have to be from Ethiopia to become a long-distance runner. You can come from a little town in Norway," Ovrebo said. "We have the belief that it is possible to be good in any sport. We just have to work the right way. Then, magic can happen."

HT Digital Streams Ltd. Editor can be reached at contentservices@htdigital.in for any questions regarding this article or any other content requests.
Read Also: Arya and Arjun Shine Bright as India Wraps Up Munich World Cup with Triumph
Get the latest Bollywood entertainment news, trending celebrity news, latest celebrity news, new movie reviews, latest entertainment news, latest Bollywood news, and Bollywood celebrity fashion & style updates!