The Norway Moment: What the Olympics Reveal About the Country You Can Experience This Summer
There’s a Norway moment happening right now.
From headlines about Olympic dominance to conversations about youth sports, the world is taking a closer look at how this small country consistently rises to the top of the Winter Games medal table. But as our Norway guide, Thor Sæther, explains, the medals are simply a reflection of something deeper.
And it’s that deeper culture — not just winter competition — that makes Norway such a compelling place to visit with Onward Travel this summer.
It Starts Early — But Without Pressure
“In Norway when kids start school, they are encouraged to start any kind of sport — music, martial arts, somewhere to go after school. They are not pointed to be the ‘best’ in one specific sport… it’s up to the kid to decide what he or she likes the most,” says Sæther.
In fact, Norway doesn’t keep score in youth sports until children are 12 or 13-years old.
“Everyone (almost) gets a medal only for participating,” Sæther explains.
Participation first. Joy first. Outdoor life first. Competition comes later.
Skiing Isn’t Just a Sport — It’s Identity
“We invented the modern skiing back in the 1800s in a small village called Morgedal,” says Sæther. Norway is, as he puts it, “a winter nation.”
But more importantly, it’s a culture built around friluftsliv — open-air living — and “hytta” cabin traditions.
“Two-thirds of the capital has forest, and you can take the metro to the forest, put on your skis or hiking shoes — and there you go. Fresh air and nice slopes in winter, super nice paths in summer,” Sæther says.
Nature is not a destination. It’s infrastructure.
Community Makes It Possible
“There are a lot of volunteers that help with equipment, making tracks, shoveling snow from football fields… everything is set for kids to do their sports,” says Sæther.
Clubs operate equipment-loan programs so financial barriers don’t prevent participation. And after disappointing Olympic results in the 1980s, Norway established Olympiatoppen — a national high-performance center that supports elite athletes with sports science, collaboration, and long-term development.
Sæther describes the culture it shaped as one focused on collaboration over ego, joy and intrinsic motivation, and openness and knowledge-sharing — a unified mindset that continues to fuel Norway’s success.
Summer Is Where You Experience It
Sæther calls himself “a little bit the odd one out,” explaining that while he grew up skiing, he now prefers summer sports like hiking, biking and football.
“I was raised with skis on my feet, but I haven’t been skiing since 2011,” says Sæther.
Which is good news for summer travelers.
Because the same landscapes that produce Olympic athletes become a summer playground of hiking trails, fjord views, forest paths, and fresh air.
“We will be able to ‘gå på tur’ — go for a walk — in the cities and villages we visit,” says Sæther.
If you want a deeper look at what that feels like, revisit our earlier blog. Then, explore the amazing full itinerary.
Step Into Your Norway Moment
If Norway’s Olympic story has you thinking, I want to see that place — this is your moment.
Registration for this summer’s Norway tour closes March 15, 2026.
Spots are limited, and once we reach capacity, we won’t be able to add additional rooms.
If you’ve been considering Norway — the landscapes, the culture, the outdoor life that quietly creates champions — now is the time to secure your place.
Leave a Reply
Want to join the discussion?Feel free to contribute!