Vikingskipet
During the Olympic Games in Lillehammer 1994, the
speed skating events were held at Hamar, located 60 km south of
Lillehammer. Hamar Olympiahall, the first Norwegian indoor speed
skating track, was build for this event. The first races in the
hall were the World Championships 1993. Falko Zandstra won the championship,
but no World Records were broken. But during the World Cup races
in December 1993, 3 World Records were broken, and during the Olympic
Games 5 World Records were broken.
The hall is shaped like an upside down vikingship,
hence the nickname "Vikingskipet". It is located very
idyllically in Åkervika by Mjøsa. This location caused
great debate because of environmental and nature conservation interests
in this area.
Hamar has been a centre for speed skating since
the 1890s. In this period the Dutch world champion Jaap Eden spent
long periods training at Hamar. The European Championships 1894
and World Championships 1895 were both held at Hamar, and the first
official Norwegian Championships were held here in 1894. The last
international championships on natural ice was held at Hamar Stadion
in 1991.
Hamar has also brought forward great speed skaters,
like Einar Halvorsen and Peter Sinnerud. Peter Sinnerud's grandson
- Sven Peter Sinnerud - has been preparing the ice in the Vikingship
for all the championships since 1994.
Internett: HOA
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