As meeting director of the Bislett Games for 24 years, Svein Arne Hansen presided over some of the greatest world records – including those from Norwegians Ingrid Kristiansen (10,000m in 1986) and Trine Hattestad (javelin in 2000).
No wonder the President of European Athletics is so delighted to be in Oslo for tonight’s IAAF Diamond League.
Such is the status of the games, that just the name ‘Bislett’ alone radiates throughout world sport with an amazing 65 world records set at the stadium.
But it is not just about the athletics.
As well-renowned is the annual strawberry party which takes place on the eve of the meeting.
Hansen had a fabulous time there yesterday, mingling with old friends and some of the biggest names in track and field, including Dutch sprinter Dafne Schippers and Norway’s javelin legend Andreas Thorkildsen, the double Olympic champion.
Norwegian Hansen, the meeting director of the Bislett Games between 1985 and 2009, said: “I am absolutely thrilled to be back in Oslo as President of European Athletics. The party was fantastic and I am really looking forward to the Games.
“We had so many wonderful performances during my time as meeting director and that has not stopped since. Athletes really rise to the occasion, wondering whether it is their year to make history at this famous meeting.
“When I think back, there are so many memories – and I am sure a few more will be created tonight.”
‘Norway condemns yesterday’s brutal terrorist attack in Tel Aviv,’ said Minister of Foreign Affairs Børge Brende.
In an Indonesian Business Discussion, initiated by the Indonesian Embassy in Oslo, Norway, participants reviewed opportunities in Indonesia for business expansion and investment by Norwegian businesses.
The Research Council of Norway has pledged 160 million NOK for the establishment of eight new research centers that will work on sustainable energy production. The project has an overall budget of 1.3 billion NOK, to be distributed over eight years.
Norway’s industry safety body has formally imposed an order on BP to act on its crane maintenance and materials handling on the Ula and Valhall facilities.
The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD) has granted a drilling permit to Engie E&P Norge for well 36/7-4 in offshore Norway.
A Norwegian prosecutor Tuesday requested jail terms of at least six years for two men charged with supporting the militant Islamic State group as their trial closed in the Norwegian capital of Oslo.
Norwegian companies are to invest in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors in Gilan Province in Iran.
India is all set to become member of Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), a key anti-proliferation grouping, as it cleared final hurdles in getting membership of the bloc that will help it access high-end missile technology.
At a meeting with Bulgarian Justice Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva on Tuesday, the ambassadors of the EU member states, Norway, Switzerland noted the progress of Bulgaria’s judicial reform.
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif will travel to Norway next week to partake in the 2016 edition of the Oslo Forum, an annual international conference of armed conflict mediators and peace process actors.
Shell’s chief executive officer, Ben van Beurden, says the company is ‘reshaping itself’ with an emphasis on stronger returns and free cash flow in order to create “a world class investment case” that is likely to include greater focus on new energy and on renewables. Shell recently became the latest fossil fuel company to bid for a slice of the fast growing offshore wind market, following Norway’s state-owned oil company Statoil into the sector (although strictly speaking, if Shell is successful, it will be re-entering the offshore wind industry, having built the 108MW Egmond offshore wind project in 2006). A consortium of Shell, Eneco and Van Oord has confirmed it is bidding to participate in the Dutch government’s tender to build two windfarms off the Dutch coast.
Norway’s sovereign wealth fund has grown its share in a multi-billion-dollar US office portfolio, acquiring a further 4% stake for $142m (€125m).
CHC say the decision is based on “customer demand” with the move coming in the wake of the crash in Norway in April that killed a Scottish oil worker
Head of Iran Veterinary Organization, Mehdi Khalaj, met with Norway’s ambassador to Tehran, Aud Lise Norheim, and discussed cooperation on fishery and fish diseases.
Maltese Foreign Minister George Abela met with Norway’s EU Affairs Minister Elisabeth Aspaker today.
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Telenor today unveiled its first move to significantly improve healthcare in emerging markets, with the introduction of its digital health service Tonic in Bangladesh. By addressing local health challenges through technology, Telenor takes another step in the digital space.
WindEurope says it welcomes an agreement signed by 10 EU countries to co-operate on offshore energy in northern Europe. On 6 June in Luxembourg, Energy Ministers from 10 EU member states signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) and work programme to enhance co-operation on renewable energy, particularly offshore wind. The ministers of Germany, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Norway, Sweden, France, Denmark, Ireland, Belgium and the UK signed the agreement, which aims to reduce the costs and accelerate the deployment of wind power at sea.
On June 14th and 15th, 500 politicians, private sector companies, indigenous peoples representatives, researchers and civil society organizations from all over the world gather in Oslo to discuss how to stop the destruction of the world’s tropical forests.