Tromsø Olympics in crisis
The northern Norwegian town of Tromsøs bid for the 2018 Winter Olympics might be jeopardized by controversies between conflicting interests in Norway. A well-known professor and analyst believes the trouble is rooted in a fundamental scepticism in Oslo about northern Norway.
Professor and political scientist Frank Aarebrot says to NRK that the conflicts around the Tromsø 2018 plans are part of a structural problem in Norway.
– Things which are all natural in the south become a problem in the north, he maintains.
Oslo against the North
He believes powerful networks in Oslo have initiated a negative media campaign against the Tromsø Olympic plans. He is confident that Oslo is systematically sceptical towards positive developments in the northern parts of the country. He believes that the same kind of scepticism can be found in the ongoing debate about hydrocarbon extraction in the Barents Sea.
The management of the Olympic bid is in crisis after the leader of the organisation, Mr. Børge Stenbøl resigned last week. The resignation has left the organisation without the necessary strong leader.
High North Olympics
In an interview to state broadcaster NRK, Professor Aarebrot expresses support to Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, who has promoted the Tromsø Olympics as part of his High North policy.
Mr. Aarebrot underlines that the Tromsø Olympics are also about security policies and economic interests in the High North.
- It is in the interests of the nation to strengthen the role of Tromsø, the professor says. -Norway will in any case have to strengthen northern Norway in connection with the future development [in the region] and cooperation with Russia, he adds
