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Nordic World Ski Championships opened

The Royal Family was present when Oslo, the winter capital of the world, welcomed sports enthusiasts from around the globe to the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2011 on Wednesday evening. Over 50 000 people turned out to watch the opening ceremony.

February 23, 2011

More than 1 700 children from schools across Oslo kicked off the evening’s festivities. Led by His Majesty The King’s Guard and carrying the flags of all the participating nations, the children paraded from the Palace Square down Palace Hill to University Square.

Svein Aaser, Chairman of the Executive Board of the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2011, made some opening remarks before Gian Franco Kasper, President of the International Ski Federation (FIS), officially opened the championships. Mayor of Oslo Fabian Stang took the opportunity to express particular thanks to the children. “You are the reason we organise world championships and it is for you that we have built the Holmenkollen national arena,” he said, before urging everyone to enjoy the days to come.

Over the next 11 days athletes from 50 nations will meet each other in 21 different competitive events at the Holmenkollen national arena. His Majesty The King will attend the championships every day, often accompanied by other members of the Royal Family. His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon is a member of the Advisory Board of the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2011 and will be visiting the arena and attending many of the events.

Cultural events in the city centre

During the World Ski Championships a series of cultural events will be held in the centre of Oslo. Medal ceremonies will take place every evening, preceded by concerts and other live acts. Stalls selling refreshments have been set up by the Spikersuppa ice skating rink in Karl Johans gate. Eight ice sculptures have also taken shape here over the past few days:

Munch in snow and ice

Along Karl Johans gate, eight ice artists from five different countries have carved ice sculptures inspired by the paintings of Edvard Munch. Over 500 tonnes of snow and 45 cubic metres of ice have been transported to Spikersuppa over the past few days, to be transformed into representations of works such as “The Scream”, “The Sick Girl” and “Evening on Karl Johan”, to name a few. A 15-metre long interpretation of “The Girls on the Bridge” is on display on Palace Hill.

Gala banquet

On Wednesday evening Their Majesties The King and Queen and Their Royal Highnesses The Crown Prince and Crown Princess attended a banquet at Oslo City Hall held in connection with the opening of the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2011. The banquet was hosted by Mayor of Oslo Fabian Stang.

Children carrying flags of all the participating nations parading from the Palace to University Square for the opening ceremony of the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2011 in Oslo (Photo: Thomas Winje Øijord / Scanpix)
The opening ceremony was also shown on large screens by the University Square (Photo: Sven Gjeruldsen, The Royal Court)
Crown Princess Mette-Marit and Princess Ingrid Alexandra at the opening ceremony. (Photo: Lise Åserud / Scanpix)
Over 50 000 people turned out at "Spikersuppa" in the centre of Oslo to see the opening ceremony on Wednesday. (Photo: Stian Lysberg Solum / Scanpix)
Queen Sonja and Princess Ingrid Alexandra during the opening ceremony. (Photo: Lise Åserud / Scanpix)
Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit at the opening of the World Ski Championships (Photo: Lise Åserud, Scanpix)
Crown Prince Haakon and Prince Sverre Magnus (Photo: Lise Åserud / Scanpix)
Kronprinsesse Mette-Marit (Photo: Lise Åserud / Scanpix)
His Majesty The King’s Guard marching to University Square, carrying flags of the participating countries. (Photo: Thomas Winje Øijord / Scanpix)
Maria Haukaas Mittet singing “Glorious”, the official song of the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2011. (Photo: Stian Lysberg Solum / Scanpix)
Over 1 700 Oslo schoolchildren kicked off the opening festivities. (Photo: Scanpix)
Over 50 000 people turned out at "Spikersuppa" in the centre of Oslo to see the opening ceremony . (Foto: Stian Lysberg Solum / Scanpix)
Mayor of Oslo Fabian Stang leading the mayors’ parade. (Photo: Thomas Winje Øijord / Scanpix)
The King and Queen and the Crown Prince and Crown Princess arriving at Oslo City Hall for the opening banquet of the World Ski Championships. (Photo: Sturlason)