{"id":52025,"date":"2022-11-18T13:12:20","date_gmt":"2022-11-18T12:12:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/norway\/?p=52025"},"modified":"2024-03-25T20:39:35","modified_gmt":"2024-03-25T19:39:35","slug":"former-elite-cross-country-skier-lashed-out-against-norwegian-oil-in-comeback-race","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/norway\/nyheter\/klimaendringer\/former-elite-cross-country-skier-lashed-out-against-norwegian-oil-in-comeback-race\/","title":{"rendered":"Former elite cross-country skier lashed out against Norwegian oil in comeback race"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Beitost\u00f8len, Norway, 17 November 2022 \u2013 Swedish cross-country skier Emil Johansson Kringstad surprised the ski elite by lashing out against Norwegian state-owned fossil fuel company Equinor at today\u2019s ski season kick-off. In a stunt in cooperation with Greenpeace Nordic, the skier called out Equinor\u2019s sportswashing and accused the company of melting the snow needed to ski.<\/p>\n\n

\u201cThe climate crisis is the most severe threat against ski sports today, and fossil energy is the main cause of the climate crisis. The winters are becoming ever shorter and we can see tomorrow melting right before our eyes. As a cross-country skier, there\u2019s no doubt I want to shed some light on how Equinor, Norway\u2019s greatest climate perpetrator, largely is to blame for this\u201d, said Johansson Kringstad.<\/p>\n\n

Last year, Equinor emitted more than 250 million tons of CO2, five times Norway\u2019s total emissions, making the company Norway\u2019s biggest emitter. The climate effects of the emissions from fossil fuels are evident within competitive skiing. This year, several ski events have been cancelled or postponed due to a shorter winter season. [1]<\/p>\n\n

Equinor using The Norwegian Ski Federation and events like the ski season kick-off to sportswash makes Greenpeace and skier Emil Johansson Kringstad react strongly. They point out that Equinor\u2019s massive emissions threaten the future of skiing and the irony of the company sponsoring a sport that will be impossible to perform as the effects of climate change become more severe.<\/p>\n\n

The comeback was no sporting success for the 31-year-old, who finished the qualifying round placing 88th, but he participated for a completely different reason than making it to the finals. When Johansson Kringstad sprinted his way across the finish line, unfolding a banner targeting Equinor, Greenpeace Nordic activists had unfolded similar banners, covering up the Equinor logos in the finish area.<\/p>\n\n

\u201cWe support all winter sports, which is why we are here today, taking a stand against Equinor. We chose to cover up Equinor\u2019s logos and advertisements in the finish area when Emil came in, to underline the absurdity of ski sports being sponsored by the greatest threat to its own existence. Equinor sponsoring ski sports is like a tobacco company sponsoring a cancer association\u201d, said Greenpeace activist Andreas Rand\u00f8y, encouraging Equinor to stop both its sportswashing and all new oil exploration.<\/p>\n\n

Emil Johansson Kringstad is known for being outspoken on the development of cross-country skiing. As the 2022 football world cup in Qatar kicks off amidst criticism over ethics in football, the skier is asking his own sport to confront the issue of sportswashing in skiing.<\/p>\n\n

\u201cThere\u2019s no doubt that Equinor sponsoring skiing events is an act of sportswashing. Climate crisis profiteer Equinor is buying itself positive acclamation, basking in the glow of the spectacular sportsmanship displayed in the tracks. Perhaps it takes a Swede to point out the double standard in claiming to take the climate issue seriously while simultaneously allowing the state\u2019s oil company to use winter sports as a PR strategy\u201d, Johansson Kringstad said wryly.<\/p>\n\n

Photos and videos are available here.<\/a><\/p>\n\n

Background on Equinor\u2019s sponsorships:<\/p>\n\n