From Winter Olympics to Mass Sport Events:
Successes and Chalenges deriving
from the Birkebeiner races
Thor Flognfeldt:
Lillehammer University College
Norway
This front page was
created last Friday….
The next morning the race
was cancelled due to very
strong wind accross the
mountain parts of the track.
The status of this winter:
• Best snow conditions for years
• Excellent preparation of tracks
• 17 000 (minus some) registered
participants – most had already
arrived to the start.
• The Friday competition took place
in nice, but a little windy conditions
Some students were located at the
Finish line to interview «happy participants» – now 120 kms away.
Outdoor sports are a risky businesses
For skiing (March):
For mountain biking (August):
• Lack of snow, heathing means
wet tracks
• Wind blowing across the
tracks
• Too much cold, low
temperatures
• Heavy rainfall meaning wet or
muddy tracks
• Cold wind
• Too hot or humid
For road race (June):
• Crowding in passing towns
• Road accidents
For runnning (Early June):
• Snow remaining in the tracks
• Heavy rainfall
Last Saturday it was more than plenty of snow, but gusty
close to storm on the higj mountain parts.
Bak to the original manuscript:
The Lillehammer Olympics took place 20 years ago
Even though many still say «this was the best Winter Games
ever, looking back it seems that the successes were not
caused by the direct after-use of the Olympics, but by other
factors like:
• Local traditions of being a mass sport organizer, especially
on recruitment to volunteering task
• Growth in participation in mass sport competitions
• Changes in accommodation preferences in the
Norwegian recreation and holiday markets
• Changes in preparation of ski slopes
What happens after a World Mega Event?
My small home town, Lillehammer, was the successfull
organizer of the 1994 Winter Olympics.
The big questions before and after that event was:
• «What would happen afterwards?
• What types of future would be most successfull:
– Smaller Mega Events like World Cup competitions, or…
– Occasional National and regional Championship Events
– Mass sport competitions – especially the annual repeating ones
• How should such events be managed?
• What about «after-use» of venues and knowledge
These reflections are based on observations and studies
after two decades.
Table 1 Post Winter Olympics. Olympic Cities as organizers of
Skiing World Cups 1988-2014
Type of competition/ Crossvenue country
Olympic organizers
Calgary 1988
Albertville 1992
Lillehammer 1994
Nagano 1998
Salt Lake City 2002
Torino 2006
Vancouver 2010
*** means frequently,
Nordic
Ski
Combined Jumping
Biathlon
Alpine
skiing
*
Y
***
*
**
***
***
*
*
***
*
**‘’ some times/irregular, * just once or a few times,
Y means in Lake Louise, Banff NationalPark
Both Calgary, Lillehammer (Hamar) and Salt Lake City have organized many
Speed Skating events
The old and established Mega Event organizers
seldom are “giving away” their position for the
(post Olympic) newcomers , they might be:
• Holmenkollen, Oslo for Nordic Skiing and Biathlon in Norway
• Locations for Nordic skiing and Biathlon in France takes place in the
Jura mountains
• The previous Olympic organizer Sapporo in Japan (1972) is the
main of ski jumping World Cup hill there, but Sapporo also have
organized World Championship in Nordic skiing
• Alpin skiing WC in the US will mostly take place in the Vail,
Colorado environment – Nordics WC seldom in the US
• Most Nordic and Biathlon events in Italy are managed in or close to
the South Tyrol region (Anterselva and Val di Fieme) and events
some of the repeating alpine events are there (Val Gardena/Alta
Badia).
• Vancouver / Whistler have not been a frequent organizer either
after the 2010 events
The first cross-country world cup in Lillehammer after the 94
Olympics (december 2013) meant completely redesigned
tracks and venue facilities.
The Lillehammer region is in addition to recreation
production relaying on other work opportunities like:
• County administration center – including a large hospital
• Education center – with a University College of more than
4 000 students and some smaller special education units,
education for “top athletes” both at high school and
university level specially designed for winter sport athletes.
• A military camp based on “National cyber war education”
up to at least Masters level – headquarter for military
computing and communication development
• A strong museums base containing the largest outdoor folk
museum in Norway (Maihaugen) , one of the largest art
museums in Norway and a nation road construction
museum plus other small museums like the Norwegian
Olympic Museum (just a Hall of Fame venue)
Post Olympic venue after-use – some effects:
Mainly positive
Alpine skiing venues – viable
Cross country and Biathlon venues –
not viable, but important for tourism
Ski jumping hill – not viable, but
important as attractions and training
venues
Ice hockey venues – the smaller one
(3.000) is viable – the large one
(11.000) is important for other uses,
including Olympic Museum
Radio & TV venues – my College
now, but also the production site of
the regional branch of the National
Raido % TV company (NRK)
Economic challenges:
Bobsleigh & Luge venue – the only
venue in the Nordic Countries important, but is not viable.
Office buildings – will often take som
time to «fill» since they are built as
surplus to existing capacity
Restaurants & bars – even if 70 % are
provisional, too many.
Accommodation – the real challenge:
Too many hotel beds and a lack of
family acc. units.
Cultural attractions – like museums:
Must expect lower visitation after an
Olympic peak season, but they are
very often improved.
This paper is about mass events with many
competitors – the four main Birkebeiner Races
«After-use», might mean to host big events like World
Cups in Biathlon, Ski Jumping, Cross Country skiing and Downhill,
but …. These events have large expences and the income to the
organizers are not covering the costs.
In Mass Sport Events, however, the costs are both pay by most
participants themselves and by a growing interest in the sponsor
markets.
In addition comes the many positive tourism effects of vistors,
both participants, accompanying persons, spectators and all sorts
of viewers…..plus pre competition training in or clase to the tracks.
The main focus of this paper is of one of the resorts in the
«tracks» – Natrudstilen at Sjusjøen – a second home area.
Mass cross-country ski events started early in
Lillehammer
The first two internationaly famous long distance ski events
was the Wasaloppet in Sweden and the Birkebeiner races in
Norway which started 1923 and 1932.
• Both have their origin based on historical myths about potential
heir to the thrones running away from enemies --- on skis.
• From the start only male competitors were participating – the
women were invited to take part late in the 1970ies
• While Wasaloppet is a long (90 kms) races without any ascent
parts, is the Birkebeiner a crossing of a mountain range area(from
200 up to 1000 meters and down again) to another valley.
• This means different, but both tough challenges for participants.
The Birkebeinerrittet (cross-country bike race) has 17.000 participants
on the main race. This is from the Friday race, restricted to 5.000.
They are close to the finish line here, after 80 kms and 700 m hight diff.
What are the prime tourism economy
effects of the Birkebeiner races?
Prime effects:
• Three weekends annually more than 20.000 persons are starting, and
along with their families and other supporters this means at least 15.000
visitiors to accommodate.
• In addition another 10.000 will take part in side-events during the weeks
Secondary effects:
• Training camps and track tests meaning on average another 2 – 3 weeks
of visits (and for many also demand of accommodation)
Tertiary effects:
• Investment in a second home close to the competition venues or
extended use of family second homes already there, both by
competitors and others.
• Testing of skis and waxing are also important – world brands like Swix
and Madshus have their production in the area.
• Reparing and cleaning competition bikes are also and important income.
The Birkebeinerrittet (cross-c.
mountain bike race) uses both
dirt roads and mountain/forest
tracks of different «qualities».
On a rainy competition day,
this really means challenges!!
Profiles and information
for the four prime
Birkebeiner Races
A.
The Birkebeiner Ski Race from 1932,
54 kms today – March every year –
16.000 participants +
B. The Birkebeiner Mountain Bike Race
from 1993, 95 kms, August every year
– 17.000 participants +
C. The Birkebeiner Cross Country
Running Race, 21 kms, June every
year – 10.000 participants.
D. The Birkebeiner Road Biking Race, 171
kms, June every year – 1.500 particip.
+ Some thousands participating in either
shorter competitions or so called «ultra»
ones – much longer races.
Those participating in A + B + C
withing the time of one year will
be honoured by the Birkebeiner
Tripple. Those doing so have the
right to be pre-registered for alle
events.
Start Rena
Start Rena
Start Lillehammer (higher)
Start Rena
Finish: Lillehammer
Finish: Lillehammer
Finish: Lillehammer
Finish: Lillehammer
The Birkebeiner tracks at Sjusjøen –
40 kms completed – 14 kms left to finish.
Lillehammer
Sjusjøen/
Natrudstilen
Rena
This is the map for the
«Birkebeiner road race»,
the longest event.
The others take part from
Rena to Lillehammer more
directly.
Jizerská Padesátka
Swix Ski Classics
• Sunday January 13th, 2013 - Czech
• Republic
Ski Classics was created in a cooperation
50km, Classic Technique
between athletes, events and IEC in Sports
Marcialonga
representatives in order to enhance the
• Sunday January 27th, 2013 - Italy
world of long distance skiing.
70 km, Classic Technique
The Ski Classics concept launched in front
König Ludwig Lauf
the ski season of 2011. Ski Classics is a new • Sunday February 3rd, 2013 - Germany
concept combining the most traditional long
42 km, Classic Technique
distance cross country skiing events in
Vasaloppet
Europe into a TV product.
• Sunday March 3rd, 2013 - Sweden
The series consists of 6 events where the
90 km, Classic Technique
last one will be the Ski Classics Final,
Birkebeinerrennet
rounding up the season and hosting the
• Saturday March 16th, 2013 - Norway
season review prize ceremony. The Ski
54 km, Classic Technique
Classics final will 2013 be held in Sweden.
Swix Ski Classics Final - Årefjällsloppet
The long distance ski races are unique
• Saturday March 23rd, 2013 - Sweden
winter sport events combining professional
75 km, Classic Technique
and amateur skiers through picturesque
landscapes across Europe.
How should mass sport events be managed?
The cost of organizing Olympics are not only about investment in
venues and infrastructure – it is also about management costs.
Also mass sport events need an efficient management. The prime tasks:
• An efficient application system – 15 - 20.000 registered by web in a
couple of minutes for the main races.
• A systematic follow up information system – mailing an electronic and a
paper journal containing such information.
• A similar contact with the leaders among the volunteers
• A system of transport and accommodation booking with registration
and payment
• Contacts with main sponsors including services to their employees
• Contracts with service providers like sport shop fairs (three times
annually) and food & beverages
• Median contacts and planning of total TV-production. Liasons to these.
These mass port events means income and jobs
Income:
Jobs - direct:
• Participants paying fees (more
than 60 000 paying)
• Transport to and from site plus
internal transport
• All sorts of accoomodation
• Sport equipement fairs
• Food & bewerages
• High position on the sponsor
markets – both locally and
international
• TV and radio coverage
• Administation of the events
• Maintaining of tracks
• Booking of accommodation,
transport and meals
• Volunteers
• Media coverages
Jobs – indirect:
• Hospitals
• Assistance to equipement
maintenance
• +++++
The Natrudstilen training and
competition venue is one of
the earliest skiing sites every
Winter – this is early November
2013 – the start of the Biathlon
Season.
In addition: buying a house, a second
home challet or appartment
The case is Sjusjøen – 20 kms from Lillehammer
located in the mountains at 800 – 1000 m a s
• We have been studying - and even assisted - the
development in this area the last 25 years
• The Olympics meant financing a water and severage pipeline
with a high capacity – giving opportunities of buiding new
high standard cabins (and appartments)
• Due to climate conditions an all-year top class cross-country
skiing and biathlon venue have been build
• Many athlets have either moved to the area or bought their
second homes
World champion Tarjei Bøe
on summer training.
Mass sports and the training market:
The Sjusjøen Case
Occasional training camps
Both national elite teams and ski
clubs from the areas with less or
irregular snow conditions.
During 2012 more than 50
national teams (not nations) stay
more than one week in training
camps – along with regional ones
this mean 20 000 + guest nights!
New special designed «macrochallets» will be opened this year
Buying a second home as a
permanent training base
Mass and elite athlets buy or hire
for long term contracts chalets or
flats in the Sjusjøen area.
The buyers are couples that both
are training/participating in at
least two, often all Birkebeiner
races.
Many of these have jobs that
might give opportunities for
extended weekend holidays.
Challets from the
1950-1960ies
Traditional
centre area
Challet area
Future services
area
Ski and bike
Venue arEA
Natrudstilen – 5 years ago Extended this autumn.
The ski and biathlon asphalted roller ski tracks, to be extended this autumn.
How should mass sport events be managed?
The cost of organizing Olympics are not only about investment in
venues and infrastructure – it is also about management costs.
Also mass sport events need an efficient management. The prime tasks:
• An efficient application system – 15-20.000 registered by web in a
couple of minutes for the main races.
• A systematic follow up information system – mailing an electronic and a
paper journal containing such information.
• A similar contact with the leaders among the volunteers
• A system of transport and accommodation booking with registration
and payment
• Contacts with main sponsors including services to their employees
• Contracts with service providers like sport shop fairs (three times
annually) and food & beverages
• Median contacts and planning of total TV-production. Liasons to these.
Conclusion:
• Winter Olympic sites are not economically viable after
the games if their prime focus is on Mega Sport Events
because such events seldome get enough income
• Mass sport events and training camps and facilities,
however, means paying particiants and accompanying
vistors who also spend money.
• People moving to the area, sport students and those
training out of competition season will be important
• If some annually returning world cup events comes in
addition, they might create a surplus some years