Leave the kids alone: Norway explains formula behind success

BORMIO, Italy, Feb 16 : Norway’s remarkable consistency at the Winter Olympics stems from a decades‑old culture that puts children’s happiness, equal access to sport and shared expertise ahead of fast results, the country’s head of delegation Tore Oevreboe said.

Norway leads the table with 27 medals, including 12 golds, ahead of hosts Italy. The Scandinavian nation has consistently led medals since the 2014 Games in Sochi and scored well in previous Olympics too.

"We know that we have to succeed in every event we participate in. But we try to stay very relaxed and humble … and we very much respect our competitors,” Oevreboe told Reuters, stressing that Norway does not take success for granted. 

Oevreboe said Norway’s advantage begins far from elite facilities and medal targets. “It's not so easy to say what is the secret. It has to do with the way we organize our society,” he said. 

"We distribute the wealth … so it’s possible for kids to participate in sports and for the parents to help them. People work eight hours a day and then they have quite a few hours to be with their kids doing sports."

FOCUS ON ENJOYMENT, NOT EARLY PERFORMANCE

Norway’s model, Oevreboe explained, is designed to keep children in sport by protecting their enjoyment rather than pressuring them to win. "We try not to focus on winning too early," he said. 

Children are encouraged to play multiple sports, develop broad physical and social skills and avoid early ranking.

"We should not create losers. We should create young small winners…The winning part is to be part of the sport and have joy."

"The point of doing sport in Norway is to lead a good life. So you start young and learn motor skills, social skills, and then you learn how to use your body in a