King Harald, a lifelong sports enthusiast, dies

King Harald of Norway, whose life was deeply intertwined with the world of sports, has passed away. He once remarked, with a mix of jest and seriousness, that sports had constituted half of his life, underscoring its profound significance to him.

“

I have once flippantly said that sports and athletics have been half of my life. So, half of my life would have been gone then?

His engagement with sports began in his early childhood, with visits to Holmenkollen. However, his passion truly ignited after his return from exile following the war. This deep-seated interest was evident from a cup final in 1945 to a World Championship reception in July 2026, marking nearly 80 years of dedicated presence at athletic events. This final appearance was at a reception for 90,000 attendees, a fitting end for the "sports king."

Throughout his reign, King Harald was a visible and engaged spectator. Many recall his warm embrace of Therese Johaug after her World Championship victory on home soil in 2011. He had known the skier since the previous year, showing a keen interest in her challenges and remembering details of her season. Johaug expressed surprise at the depth of his knowledge and interest in sports.

“

You did it.

His involvement extended beyond mere attendance. As Prince and Crown Prince, he was closely connected with Norwegian athletes since the 1948 Summer Olympics. He even traveled with the Norwegian team to major events. On a bus trip to the 1964 Winter Olympics in Austria, he engaged in a bet with the legendary ski jumper Birger Ruud, who was also on board. Ruud, still revered for his 1936 Olympic gold, bet it would take him less than five seconds to be recognized in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. He was recognized in three.

“

I had heard that King Harald was interested in sports, but that he followed so closely, I had never imagined.

King Harald ranked Ruud above all other Norwegian athletes. Years later, he spoke of Ruud's preeminence. During the 1964 Olympics, he sat with speed skaters Per Ivar Moe and Fred Anton Maier when Knut "Kuppern" Johannessen won gold. Moe initially thought he had won by a tenth of a second, but Johannessen's time was adjusted. Harald was there to comfort the athletes, demonstrating his close connection to them.

“

I think Birger Ruud must be the single athlete who ranks the highest.