With construction costs of about 220 million Euro the Holmenkollen is the most expensive skijumping facility and the public decided in an online poll that the first jump shall be made by Anette Sagen. Bjoern Einar Romoeren was second in the voting.

Romoeren is blamed

But on the evening before the official opening - originally some youth jumpers should have tested the inrun length for Sagen - Romoeren showed up at the hill, put his jumping suit on and made the first jump on the hill, that is a "national treasure" for the Norwegians. At that time Sagen was sitting on a plane returing home from the Continental Cup in Zao (JPN).

On the next day Sagen made the first official jump but at the point the situation was already messed up. 6 000 fans came to show their support for Sagen and Romoeren was considered the bad guy because he should have known that his decision to jump was wrong.

Feminists up in arms

Romoeren apologized in an official statement but it already became a political issue. Feminists are up in arms against the normally popular Romoeren, who's part of the legendary Kollenhopp team like many other Norwegian top athletes. Many believe that this elitist circle of skijumpers thought that one of them should make the first jump.

Due to this scandal Romoeren was not nominated for the competitions in Lahti and Kuopio, officially to protect him. Also his coach Mika Kojonkoski and Clas Brede Brathen were not too happy about Romoeren's actions. Especially Brathen is consideren an advocate for women's skijumping and Sagen is a star in Norway.

Who's responsible?

Romoeren will probably be allowed to compete in Lillehammer and Oslo, but if the atmosphere is that heated up, it might be better for him to not show up at the Holmenkollen. So also his participation at the skiflying World Championships in Planica might be in danger.

Now the search for those responsible is on in Norway. Who let Romoeren make that first jump? Even the dismissal of the chief of the competition at the Holmenkollen, Torgeir Nordby, is discussed. It is possible, that the Norwegian Ski Association will displace Nordby, one of the heads of skijumping in Norway.

Nordby vs. Havnelid

Nordby defends hisself against the reproaches. He said he didn't ask Romoeren to jump. The general secretary of the World Championships 2011, Asne Havnelid, sees things differently. She said it was always clear that Romoeren would not make the first jump.

However this story will end, so far it's only clear that it will be the top issue in Norwegian media for a couple of days longer.

Tags:  skijumping| anette sagen | einweihung | holmenkollen | oslo

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