SOCHI, Russia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--President of the Oslo bid committee, Mr Stian Berger RØSLAND, Governing Mayor of Oslo, and Oslo bid committee member, Mr Inge ANDERSEN, Secretary General of the Norwegian Olympic Committee presented on behalf of the Oslo bid committee. Also speaking at the briefing were Mr Gerhard HEIBERG, IOC member in Norway, Mrs. Eli GRIMSBY, CEO of Oslo2022, and Mr Bjørn DÆHLIE, skiing legend and multiple Olympic Champion.

- First and foremost I believe Oslo 2022 will be a great experience for the athletes. We have a strong passion for winter sports in Norway, and I would like the athletes of the world to share that experience. We want to make Games that inspire a new generation of athletes, Dæhlie commented at the press briefing.

GAMES CONCEPT

Oslo´s Games concept takes the entire city into use, partly in existing, and partly in new facilities. The Games plan is complete by hosting the alpine skiing, and bob, luge and skeleton events in the Lillehammer area, known from the highly acclaimed Games of 1994. The main athletes village is situated in Oslo, and a second village in Lillehammer. Oslo´s plan rests on three core value pairs, representing the duality of Norwegian culture: Ambitious and generous; urban and natural; playful and responsible.

- Oslo is small enough to offer intense moments - in an intimate metropolis. The Games will take place in the city itself, taking the entire city into use. This will give the athletes, the media and every visitor the sense of sharing the excitement with many, offering intense personal moments of passion, commented Stian Berger Røsland, Governing Mayor of Oslo and President of the Bid Committee.

- Our Games concept is also about sustainability and long-term qualities of the city. The athletes and media villages will require us to build a completely new urban district. Our ambition is to promote innovation in how we shape the physical framework for life cities, commented Eli Grimsby, CEO of Oslo2022.

GAMES FOR SPORT

- Sport is the largest common area of interest in Norway. Sport, and in particular winter sport, is found everywhere, in every family, in every local community, in every walk of life. The Norwegian sports movement represents more than 2 million memberships, 12 000 sport clubs and 54 sports federations. More than 90 per cent voted in favor of the bid for the 2022 at our general assembly, commented Mr. Inge Andersen, Secretary General of the Norwegian Olympic Committee.

OSLO 2022

Oslo is the capital of Norway with 600 000 inhabitants. Its Olympic Games plan has been under development since early 2012, and the City Council made its decision (52 -7) to apply in a vote in June 2013. The application is subject to national government guarantees, to be put before parliament during 2014. A government feasibility study has approved Games plan and budget in December 2013.

The budget for Games expenditure and public investments represent a total of USD 3,4 billion (NOK 21,7 billion).

Contacts

Media contact
Gyro for the Norwegian Olympic Committee
Mr Jomar Selvaag
+ 47 4144 7177
jomar@gyro.no