The Norwegian Cross-Country Skiing Association pays an unexpectedly high price for the loss of a major sponsor. After a few million crowns per year will be missing from the coffers, the team of the most successful nation in the world will be reduced in size.
It was already announced last week that Norway’s largest supplier of consumer goods “Norengros” will withdraw from cross-country skiing as a sponsor with immediate effect. The company ended the 20-year collaboration, saying that it had achieved its goals and increased its level of awareness as hoped.
“Norengros” recently supported the Norwegian cross-country skiing association with a lot of money is not exactly known. However, a company spokesman told Verdens Gang that it was several million Norwegian kroner a year. The winter sports stars now lack this money in their coffers. The effects are serious.
As “VG” reported on Wednesday, there has now been an “emergency meeting” between the association and the active cross-country skiers. According to the newspaper, the newspaper’s activists are said to have been informed of drastic steps as a result of the withdrawal of sponsors.
According to sources that have not yet been confirmed, the Scandinavian men’s team will be reduced to ten runners starting next season. In 2022/23 there were still 13 men in the team around superstar Johannes Klæbo. And the women’s team is also “shrunk to health”. An athlete will have to say goodbye to her next winter.
Norway’s cross-country team have to tighten their belts
According to “VG”, the athletes were not yet informed on Wednesday who had to leave the teams due to the new situation. But everyone will know by next Monday at the latest. Then the official presentation of the squad for the 2023/24 season is on the agenda.
Further serious savings by the cross-country skiing association will now affect the summer preparation of the teams as well as the individual travel plans of the stars, who from now on should only travel to races together in order to save costs. In addition, marketing measures are restricted and costs for doctors and physiotherapists are saved.
