The Statue in Morgedal

^{Sondre Norheim

- the Skiing
Pioneer of Telemark}

With 20 ski veterans as guard of honour, the Sondre statue was unveiled in the centre of Morgedal by HM King Olav on January 16, 1988. About 2,000 people attended the ceremony on a beautiful winter day.

The Sondre statue is unveiled by HM King Olav
Photo by Tore Øyvind Moen, Varden

Eivind Strondi was the master of ceremonies, and among the guests were official representatives from North Dakota, Canada and Telemark. The organizing committees were represented by Chester Reiten and Ragnhild Hagen. Chairman of the Morgedal Sports Club, Asbjørn Gåsdalen, thanked the committees for all their efforts in making this project a reality.

“Sondre was a true pioneer. He generated enthusiasm and excitement far beyond Morgedal”, the King said in his speech. “Sondre brought something new to the nation and the world. With his example he generated opportunities. He has made Norwegian words like ski and slalom known worldwide. He fully deserves to be celebrated like we do today”, the King said.

During the ceremony a message and greeting was sent from Morgedal to the Olympic Games in Calgary, due to be held in February the same year. The text of the message was read in front of the King by 17-year-old Sondre Versto of Morgedal.

Feel free to browse
>Sondre Statues in Norway and the United States
>The Statue in Minot
>Knut Skinnarland – the Sondre Sculptor

The message brought friendly wishes that young people should live out the joy of skiing that Sondre had, in peaceful competition, first of all to participate, not to win. Norwegian ski star and giant slalom gold winner from the 1952 Winter Olympics in Oslo, Stein Eriksen, read the same text as he later introduced the message at the Olympic stadium in Calgary.

Sondre Norheim - the Skiing Pioneer of Telemark

^{Sondre Norheim

- the Skiing
Pioneer of Telemark}