OSLO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In a referendum yesterday 55 per cent of the population of Oslo voted in favour of going ahead with the application for a Financial Shortfall Guarantee and a possible Norwegian bid for the 2022 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games.

– This was an important date for Norwegian sports and indeed for the City of Oslo and entire country, states Mr Inge Andersen, Secretary General of the NOC. – All Norwegian summer and winter sports federations – representing over 12000 local sports clubs – support a possible bid. The positive result in the referendum represents a boost for our whole organisation and gives new energy for the next steps toward 2022.

– A meticulous effort from the whole sports organisation has persuaded the majority of the population of Oslo to vote in favour of the possibility of Winter Olympic and Paralympic games in the country´s capital. The organisation has organised mass meetings, taken part in debates and in media initiatives. We are very happy that the efforts have been crowned with a positive decision, concludes Mr Andersen.

Following the positive result, the process of acquiring the Financial Shortfall Guarantee from the Government and subsequently the Parliament of Norway, will go forward with unchecked speed. It will allow the Municipality of Oslo and the Norwegian Olympic and Paralympic Committee to present a bid to the IOC.

The Norwegian Parliament will make its decision on the Financial Shortfall Guarantee during the autumn of 2014.

– Olympic and Paralympic games represent a unique opportunity to create and take part in something great, with implications way beyond our national boundaries and for a whole new generation. Winter Games in Oslo will allow us a rare opportunity to present Norway as a destination for winter sport for the international winter sports family – winter sports will be coming home. It will also present Norway as a modern, knowledge based society, and as an attractive partner. These will be Olympic and Paralympic Games for the entire nation, states the Governing Mayor, Mr Stian Berger Røsland, Head of the Oslo City Government.