(ATR) Only one Norwegian youth political party supports the Oslo 2022 Olympic bid.
Representatives from the youth wings of all parties in Norway’s parliament gathered for a debate on Monday. When asked, only the conservative party’s youth wing said they supported the city’s 2022 campaign. The other seven all said the Games are too expensive.
Facing anemic public and political support for the bid, Oslo 2022 officials have said that strong support from young Norwegians is a critical aspect of their bid.
Speaking to Around the Rings Oslo 2022 CEO Eli Grimsby said the opposition has well known for the bid.
"We would have liked if all of the youth parties were in our favor, but we have known this for quite awhile," Grimbsy said."We also know that within the parties there are differing opinions and in many of the parties it’s quite close with the yes and no votes.
"Despite the fact that most of the youth parties are against [the bid], we know that the majority of our young people are the ones supporting the bid through the whole phase," she added.
Helping her cause, a referendum in Oslo on the bid had 65 percent support from young voters.
"We’ve also seen in the rest of the country that the young people are the most positive.
"We are still quite optimistic when it comes to the youth and the young people in Norway," she said, adding, "we need to work harder to see more support nationally."
Oslo received another blow on Aug. 8, when research firm InFact for the Tromso newspaper Nordlys, found 50 percent in Oslo oppose the bid, with 44 percent in favor. In northern Norway, opposition is significantly greater with 80 percent against a bid.
The Norwegian government will advise of their position regarding the 2022 bid in September, with the Parliament expected to reach a final verdict about financial guarantees necessary to move the bid forward in October or November.
The IOC Executive Board short-listed Oslo, along with Beijing and Almaty, Kazakhstan, on July 7, as candidate cities for 2022.
Oslo is seeking to host the Games for a second time, having been the setting of the 1952 Winter Olympics.
The host city for the 2022 Olympic Winter Games will be selected by the IOC on July 31, 2015 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Onward to YOG
Grimsby, along with another young member from Oslo 2022, are traveling to Nanjing on Thursday to attend the Summer Youth Olympic Games.
"I think it is important to be there and show – even though we are still in the process – that we are positive and also to support our young athletes from Norway," Grimsby told ATR.
Thirty-one youth athletes will represent Norway in Nanjing.
"I think we will see what the young people are dreaming of, hoping of, and also to hopefully meet some of our good colleagues from Kazakhstan and Beijing," the Norwegian bid leader said.
Written by Brian Pinelli.
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