2_9_ScanMag_72_Jan_2015_Text_Q10_Scan Magazine 1 09/01/2015 22:43 Page 20
Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Festivals in Norway
Usain Bolt driven around ExxonMobil Bislett Stadion in the car ‘Il Tempo Gigante’.
ExxonMobil Bislett Games – welcoming the Champions With a proud history of hosting sporting events for more than a 100 years, and as a pinnacle opening the 1952 Winter Olympics, Bislett Stadion has made an admired mark on the world of great sports. Furthermore – backed by 69 world records – the stadium has also risen to Diamond League stardom. This summer the 50th anniversary of the ExxonMobil Bislett Games will surely have you pinned to live broadcast – unless you want to experience this extraordinary event in the flesh. By Julie Lindén | Photos: ExxonMobil Bislett Games
“The strength of this stadium, beyond its historical significance and central location, is no doubt its feeling of intimacy and closeness between athletes and spectators,” says Steinar Hoen, Meeting Director of the ExxonMobil Bislett Games, as well as nine-time high jump participant at the Games. Having personally experienced the unmatchable atmosphere he describes, he continues: “The stadium was built in 1922, and although it was re-built to modern standards in 2005 it doesn’t have that barrier you so often find between audience and athletes at these newly built mega arenas around the world.” It was when three Oslo sports clubs – Tjalve, Vidar and BUL – came together
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and formed the Bislett Alliance, that the groundwork for the Games was laid. Through collective efforts the first meeting was hosted in 1966, and arrangers were soon able to welcome the very best performers in top-class track and field to Bislett Stadion. Today, the Alliance can count names such as Sebastian Coe, Carl Lewis and Usain Bolt among attendees. As for the list of athletes attending the Games on 11 June 2015, Hoen is especially enthusiastic. “As a former European Champion in high jump, it’s very exciting for me to say that we will see an attempt at breaking the current world record in high jump, with Ukrainian Bohdan Bondarenko and Qatari Mutaz Essa Barshim
gracing the stadium with their presence. It will be a spectacular duel attempt at breaking the classic 2.45 m record that’s been standing since Sotomayor set it in 1993.” Another highlight hoped for is six-time Olympic gold medallist and sprinting legend Usain Bolt returning to Bislett after a year away, while home-grown talent Henrik Ingebrigtsen is set to make a grand performance running the famous ‘dream mile’. With millions of viewers in 130 countries around the world tuning in to the Games, and an audience of 15,000 cheering from the bleachers, the results at Norway’s largest sporting event will be well worth your time.
For more information, please visit: www.bislettgames.no