High on the hills offering splendid views of Oslo, the capital of Norway, is the Holmenkollen Ski Facility all year; free except during ski meets. Experience capital sports in Norway.
Holmenkollen boasts a spectacular World Cup arena, rebuilt for the 2011 Nordic (Trial) World Ski Championships. This prestigious winter sport event started in 1892 and is the oldest in the world, drawing huge crowds for the more than 20 different competitions. A few weeks later the Great Ski Jump is held, which also traditionally draws a huge crowd.
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Capital Sports in Norway
The centerpiece of the arena is the impressive Holmenkollen Ski Jump, which is part of a complex that includes the world’s oldest ski museum and a ski-simulator, where you can experience how it feels to speed down the world’s toughest slopes. The Ski Museum, which is situated within the ski jump, reopened in summer 2010.
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The exhibition traces 4,000 years of skiing history in Norway, and has added new films which feature downhill racing and ski jumping. Panoramic views of Oslo can be seen from the observation deck on top of the jump tower.
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Norwegian dishes
There’s a café serving smørbrød, and the Holmenkollen Restaurant serves good Norwegian dishes. The walk down to Holmenkollen metro station takes 10 minutes, and within half an hour you are back in the city.
Capital Sports in Norway, written by Tor Kjolberg