Every Norwegian over 30 remembers the Olympic Winter Games in Lillehammer. Norwegians under 30 wish they did. The Lillehammer-Olympic games were important for the national soul of Norway. And these days we celebrate the 25th anniversary.
The Kristin-doll from the Olympic Games in Lillehammer, is everywhere in the streets of Lillehammer.
The Olympic games in Lillehammer were important. I remember being there, enjoying the athmosphere, the pride over the games being fairly well organized and how everyone felt connected to one another.
It was 25 years ago the “floka”
One thing I remember very fondly is the Olympic Games “floka” which was a special dance everyone did when we were cold (it was minus 25 C) while watching the skiiers, skijumpers and biathletes.
The music was typical Scandinavia mid-90s. And if you’re wondering why the beginning is much older than 1994, then it’s because the lyrics are referring to the Winter Olympics in Oslo in 1953.
Kristin, Håkon and the Northern Lights
The designers behind the Olympic Winter Games in Lillehammer really dived into the national pride of Norway when they made the logo and the mascots. Kristian and Håkon were two semi-Viking children.
Håkon was one of the two Viking children you could meet at the Winter Olympic Games at Lillehammer. Now you can meet him outside shops in the main street of Lillehammer.
You could buy them as dolls but you could also meet them in person. A number of kids were hired to act as Kristin and Håkon, meeting celebrities and being young ambassadors for the Olympic Games.
Kristin and Håkon outside a shop in Lillehammer
The Northern Lights were an important part of the design as well. The Northern Lights were featured in the logo even though it’s fairly rare to see the Nothern Lights in Lillehammer, as the city is situated way too south for that.
A 25th anniversary celebration in Lillehammer. The Northern lights were the logo and a modern remake of the old “helleristninger” (petroglyphs) were illustrations
They also used a modern version of the old “helleristninger” (petroglyphs) that can be found several places in Scandinavia. The petroglyphs were used to illustrate all the different sports.
Watch a full reminder of the Winter Olympic Games in Lillehammer.
I watched this.
I did too and I feel slightly old that it’s already 25 years ago. It feels like yesterday. Well, maybe not yesterday but last winter, perhaps.