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Several athletics experts believe that Narve Gilje Nordås outraged when he withdrew from the cross-country EC and accused the athletics leadership of being “corrupt”.
– Narve’s reaction is an overreaction, because you must not accuse the other party of being corrupt, says former top sports manager Bjørge Stensbøl, who now works as a consultant in business.
He led the Olympiatoppen from 1991 to 2004.
– Corruption is punishable. He stretches it far too far, believes Stensbøl.
Narve Gilje Nordås decided to withdraw from the squad for the terrain EC in Turkey as a reaction to training buddy Per Svela not coming along. They are both trained by Gjert Ingebrigtsen.
Bjørge Stensbøl
Former top sports director
Nordås then spoke out in an interview with NRK. He reacts particularly to Filip Ingebrigtsen getting a place in the EC squad.
– The last place was between Filip (Ingebrigtsen) and (Per) Svela. When he (Håvard Tjørhom, assistant sports director in the athletics association, editor’s note) takes out a better comrade and colleague in front of one who has objectively proven better form. It’s such a corrupt management that I can’t accept it, Nordås added NRK.
Stensbøl says he can understand that Nordås is disappointed, but:
– Terrengløp EC is a team sport, and he destroys Norway by withdrawing. It’s a bit serious. He is not only destroying himself, but also Norway. Norway’s team is weakened by Narve pulling back, claims Bjørge Stensbøl.
However, Stensbøl believes that both parties have a responsibility:
– I hope for the future that they sit down as reasonable parties and talk together.
Former top runner Arne Kvalheim largely agrees with Stensbøl:
– I have no basis for saying that the withdrawal is wrong, but I think Narve is overreacting. He shouldn’t boycott. It’s stupid that he pulls back.
– It’s fine to be in solidarity, but it’s stupid of Nordås – and it’s mostly about himself. Furthermore, Filip Ingebrigtsen has shown in the past that he can run cross-country races when he is fit. He became European champion in 2018.
– In any case, it is important that we put an end to the conflicts in athletics, Kvalheim believes.
Arne Kvalheim
Former athlete
The former running queen Ingrid Kristiansen, for her part, is skeptical of the athletics association’s treatment of Narve Gilje Nordås.
– It seems that they are not putting things right for Nordås and Svela. And then I realize that Nordås is loyal to his training partner. I think the athletics association should think carefully. Is Per Svela worse than Filip Ingebrigtsen? No! As long as Filip is to act as professional guide for the national team athletes in middle and long distance running, I don’t understand why they don’t take the runners out.
– For me, it seems that Narve is constantly getting resistance.
Ingrid Kristiansen
Roger Gjøvaag, former athlete and top manager, emphasizes to VG that he does not know all sides of the matter:
– But we must trust that the athletics association has control over it, when they make their choices. It is not so easy to stand on the outside and criticize. I trust that the athletics association has done the right thing.
– What do you think about Nordås now withdrawing from the championship?
– I think it’s stupid of you, because he was in good shape, so he should have run. If the reason why he withdraws is that Per Svela was not taken out, then I think it is stupid. But I don’t know all the circumstances of the case.
Today’s top sports management in Norwegian sports does not want to comment on what has happened:
– The Olympic summit does not interfere with the national teams’ selection of athletes for their own championships, says top sports manager Tore Øvrebø in an email to VG.
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