Strength and agility was essential for warriors during the Viking era. The children had to start exercises at early age to make sure their skills surpass their enemies in a battles, but also to do everyday tasks back in year 793-1066.
Everything that could build muscle and coordination were priority and important. The physical basis was crucial to the outcome of the battles that took part in – yes it could be the difference between life and death.
Fortunately, this is not the most important in our era, but performance still depends whether you are well enough prepared physically.
During the workshops, you will become familiar with how the Vikings prepared and trained to cope with the rigors that they encountered in connection with the conflict.
We hope that you will experience workshops as an inspiration and love to retrieve specific ideas and exercises to your fitness activity!
Are you ready to take the challenge?!
For our grand opening of the 3rd World Gym for Life Challenge, we are happy to welcome both participants and other audience to our Norwegian Welcome Evening!
This will take place Wednesday 26th of July, on the very first day of your Gym for Life 2017 experience!
Be sure to meet up at Oslofjord Convention Center Wednesday night, because this you don’t want to miss!
We will together with talented gymnasts, take you on a journey through our four seasons, spring, summer, autumn and winter. Throughout the show you will encounter a selection of Norwegian traditions, maybe you’ll meet some trolls?
In just about an hour, unique Norwegian gymnastics will tell you a history, accompanied with emotive music and skillfully crafted animations.
We can’t wait to host you all on our Norwegian Welcome Evening, and we hope you are looking forward to it too!
Til helgen samles Nord-Europas beste turnere i Trondheim Spektrum. Medaljefavorittene er det norske landslaget for turn menn.
I fjor ble mesterskapet arrangert i Irland og da med god norsk innsats: fire gull, sølv i lagkonkurransen og to bronse til turn menn.
Det er nå store forventninger til de norske jentene og guttene. Stian Skjerahaug har slitt med en vond skulder siden OL i Rio, men det setter ingen demper på medaljehåpet.
– Mitt mål er å vinne gull sammen med laget, og å ta medaljer i noen av apparatene, sier han.
Det samme mener landslagssjef for turn menn, Gabriel Negru.
– Målet er gull i lagkonkurransen. Det er også forventninger om medalje i mangekamp og individuelle apparater.

Medaljesjanser for jentene også
For de norske jentene er håpet medalje som lag og i apparatene bom, frittstående og hopp.
– Jentene forventer å gjennomføre en fin konkurranse uten fall og håper på finaler. Det er det jeg ønsker også, men jeg er også interessert i at jentene skal klare de nye momentene også i øvelsene, sier landslagskoordinator for turn kvinner, Valentin Pintea.
Han tror Wales og Island har største sjansene for å vinne konkurransen.
Blir vist på TV2 – historisk!
– Det er etter mine beregninger første gang en turnkonkurranse i Norge går på nasjonalt tv i dette årtusenet. Det har vel knapt skjedd før i norsk TV-historie. Det har i alle fall aldri skjedd på reklame-TV, sier Åse Linda Tynning.
Sammen med Flemming Solberg skal de kommentere helgens mesterskap. Det samme gjorde de under OL i Rio.
– Turn var jo svært populært blant seerne under Rio-OL. Nå blir det veldig spennende å se om nordmenn er interessert i turn også når det ikke er OL.
Hva mener du vi kan forvente oss av de norske utøverne?
– Det norske turnlaget som stiller i Trondheim er medaljefavoritter, sier Tynning.
Det er Norges Gymnastikk- og Turnforbund og Trondheim Turnforening som arrangerer Nord-Europeisk mesterskap. Trondheim Turnforening har lagt ned en formidabel innsats for å få produksjonen av sendingene på plass.
– TV 2 prøver dette fordi er det i fremtiden blir stadig dyrere å sikre seg store rettigheter som OL og fotball. Dermed er det spennende å prøve ut mindre idretter som kan bygges i Norge. I dette perspektivet er det viktig at hele turn-Norge støtter opp om og sprer at vi sender dette. Seertallene vil være avgjørende for hvorvidt det blir flere turnkonkurranser på TV 2 sportskanalen, sier Tynning.
From year 793-1066 Norwegian Vikings voyaged, explored and invaded centuries across Europe.
Traces of powerful the role they played in Norway’s history can still be seen in many parts of the country – and now you can experience it when you join us for Gym for Life 2017!
Vestfold is full of history from the Viking age. Bring your friends and family and visit for exempel:
Oseberghaugen – The Royal mound in Tønsberg – Queen’s grave:

Archaeological excavations in 1904 uncovered history’s largest and richest example of craftmanship from the Viking Ages.
The beautiful 21,5 m long Oseberg ship, Oseberg carriage, five beautifully carved bed-posts shaped like animal heads, four sledges, beds, chests, weaving-frames, household utensils and much more.
For a long time it was thought that this was the grave of Queen Åsa, grandmother of King Harald Hairfair. Scientific examinations in 1992 now date the buriel to 834 AD, and indicate that it is Queen Alvhild, who was the first wife of King Gudrød, who lies buried here.
The barrow, 40 m in diameter, was restored in 1947. A newly opened path along the Velle creek has posts which inform of the excavation. A copy of the beautifully carved bow of the ship can be seen in front of the Vestfold County Museum.
Kaupang Viking Town:

Kaupang was founded around the year 800. The location was significant when the town was established as a hub for trade and production.
At Kaupang today there is built a Viking house like they think it could have been. You can also see a model of the town and get to know how the town was located.
Archaeological excavation of children. Stories, archery and games. Try the tasteful Kaupang soup cooked in iron pot, like the Kaupang residents may have done it. The bread will be made over the fire.
Many have dug and researched Kaupang from the 1800s until now. Most of the city is still not excavated. In the exhibition «What Kaupang Earth hid» you get an insight into how archaeologists worked, what they did and what we know about Kaupang history today.
Godstad Mound:

The famous Gokstad Viking longship was excavated in 1880 and gave a reliable picture of what a Viking longship would have looked liked. The Gokstad mound was reopened in 2007 and new investigations were carried out on the grave.
The grave was previously believed to be that of Olav Geirstad-Alv, half-brother of Halvdan Svarte. However, recent discoveries have increased the uncertainty surrounding this version of history. It is therefore still uncertain who was buried in the Gokstad mound.
For more information:
http://www.visitvestfold.com/en/see-and-do/attractions/cultural-heritage/
Uttaket for Nord-Europeisk mesterskap i Trondheim er klart.
Turn kvinner:
Juliane A. Tøssebro – Bergen TF
Linn Finstad – Nedre Glomma TF
Solveig M. Berg – Asker TF
Thea Mille Nygaard – Holmen Tropp og TF
Maria Tronrud – Oslo TF
– Vi forventer, og håper, at vi klarer en medalje med laget selv om det blir vanskelig med så mange jevne lag, sier landslagskoordinator for turn kvinner, Valentin Pintea.
Han tror Wales og Island har største sjansene for å vinne.
– De norske jentene forventer å gjennomføre en fin konkurranse uten fall, og håper på finaler. Det er det jeg ønsker også, men jeg er også interessert i at jentene skal klare de nye momentene i øvelsene. I tillegg har jentene også sjanse for medaljer i apparatene bom, frittstående evt. hopp.
Turn menn:
Harald Grimsrud Wibye – Nedre Glomma TF
Pietro Giachino – Njård Turn
Stian Skjerahaug – Stavanger TF
Marcus Conradi – Oslo TF
Sofus Heggemsnes – Oslo TF
– Målet er god prestasjon og gull i lagkonkurransen. Det er også forventninger om medalje i mangekamp og individuelle apparater, sier Gabriel Negru, landslagsjef for turn menn.
• Norway has the longest coastline in Europe
• Norge is the official Norwegian name of Norway
• With 24 hours of daylight in summer, there is plenty of time to do your favorite sport: Gymnastics!
• Norway are known for the beautiful fjords and mountains

• Hornindalsvatnet, in central Norway, is Europe’s deepest lake!
• In Norway you can drive the world’s longest road tunnel
• The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded in Oslo each year.
• In 1972, Norway became one of the first countries to establish a Ministry of Environment.
• Norway has about 450,000 lakes in total

• The original cheese slicer (“ostehøvel”) was invented and patented by Thor Bjørklund, a Norwegian carpenter, in 1925 • We have the best brown cheese? Taste it yourself!
• The Sami are the indigenous people of Norway. Known for their colorful clothes and their huge herds of reindeer, the Sami have been living in northern Scandinavia for over 10,000 years.
• The Norwegian currency is Norske kroner (NOK)
• Norway is situated in the northern Europe with approximately 5 million residents. • Norway has common borders with Finland, Sweden and Russia
While we are counting down months, weeks and days, lets take a throwback to our test-event this summer.
Gymnasts from Sweden, Denmark and Norway had a great contest, and 12 teams participated at the Gala. Every month we will share some moment from Gym for Life 2016.
First up is Alta Turnforening from Norway. And guess what, they are coming next summer!
The county of Vestfold is situated in the south of Norway. Vestfold is the smallest and one of the most densely populated counties in Norway.
The largest towns Larvik, Tønsberg, Sandefjord and Horten are all located along the coast.
Vestfold is easily reached by air, ferry and train. Flights to Oslo (Torp) take you to our regional Airport, just 10 kilometres outside Sandefjord.
Color Line and Fjord Line run ferry lines between Hirtshals (DK) and Larvik as well as Strømstad (SE) and Sandefjord. There is also ferry between Horten and Moss, run by Bastø-Fosen.

Places to visit in Vestfold
Vestfold is a small county bordering Buskerud and Telemark. Vestfold is located west of Oslofjord, as the name indicates.
Vestfold coastline may not be long, but it has an extensive cultural history. Vestfold has played a central role in Norwegian history as a centre for whaling, shipbuilding and marine activities.
You can experience this at close quarters. The 3 main towns in Vestfold; Larvik, Sandefjord and Tønsberg are all pretty close to each other and offer a varied selection of shopping, activities, attractions and coastal experiences.

Vestfold was a centre of power in the Scandinavian Viking Age. A number of the world’s most important archaeological finds from the Viking Age were discovered in Vestfold.
This includes monumental royal burial mounds in Borre (Horten), the Oseberg ship burial mound and Slottsfjellet (Castle Hill) in Tønsberg and the Gokstadhaugen burial mound in Sandefjord.

Vestfold is the county in Norway boasting the most traces of our proud Viking heritage. The region between Mølen in the south and Borre in the north has many places worth visiting.
Over a distance of about 60 kilometres (40 miles) you will discover large, significant burial mounds, remains of Norway’s first town and where the most important finds from the Viking Age were made. Vestfold even has its own Viking ships, both original and replicas.
Text: www.visitvestfold.com
In June 2016 The Norwegian Gymnastics Federation organized Gym for Life Challenge Norway as a test-event for the big event in 2017.
Approximately 500 gymnasts from all over Norway, and from Sweden and Denmark participated in the contest.
It was a great weekend, – just check out the cool video Oslofjord Convention Center made for us!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4sJsT0tdHY
Get ready for the third edition of World Gym for Life Challenge!
The Norwegian Gymnastics Federation is really looking forward to organize, and make this the best, World Gym for Life Challenge.
President of the Local Organizing Committee (LOC), Stig Nilssen, hope to see you in Norway next year!
Here you will perform, meet new friends, eat, drink, sleep, relax and hang out.
Join us here on the seaside of the outer part of the Oslofjord Convention Center (Oslofjord) where you and the rest of the participants will perform, live and sleep for some memorable summer days in 2017.
Oslofjord is the best place to enjoy the days and evenings during the event. Here you have the opportunity to spend time with your gymnastic friends and a bonfire by the beach is a perfect place to make new relations and long life friendships.
There will also be possible to do gymnastics, performances, dancing or just having fun outside on the big green lawn.
Oslofjord is the largest and most modern convention center in Northern Europe.
Oslofjord’s location by the fjord and its on-site accommodation makes this venue a unique ideal arena for the World Gym for Life Challenge in 2017.
The large conference hall in the Oslofjord Convention Center complex will be the main arena for the contest.
A first look inside the Oslofjord conference hall will take your breath away. The hall spreads across 4.800 square meters and provides seating for 5.000 spectators.
Accommodations, Gym for Life Village
The accommodation includes 700 guest cabins and apartments providing a total of 6.000 beds, all in the convention center area.
The apartments are modern and light. There will be 4 to 6 persons staying in each cabin.
Some apartments are located within the center complex, beneath the main hall, with elevators to all levels. This is perfect for participants with physical disabilities.
Below the Convention Center where the apartments are located, Oslofjord has its own garden village with the 500 lovely cabins.
The village also consist of a private beach, and plenty of place for sporting and socialization.
ALL FOTO: OSLOFJORD CONVENTION CENTER
10 good reasons to join us for World Gym for Life Challenge 2017
- Make new gymnastics friends from all over the world.
- Show people of Norway how it’s done! – During The World Gym for Life Challenge 2017 it will be possible to participate in outdoor show performances in the city of Tønsberg and Sandefjord. To make sure that everyone gets the opportunity to participate, there will be three different shows on three different days.
- Join us for the workshop «The Vikings». The Norwegian Vikings were warriors and strong athletes, as well as skilful sailors. You will be introduced to physical and athletic activities from the Viking age (year 793 -1066). Who knows, maybe even a real Viking ship will visit the shore of the Oslofjord Convention Center!
- Have you ever lived in a Gymnastics Village? We are so proud of, and pretty sure, we are the first to make a village with over 1500 gymnastics!
- With 24 hours of daylight in summer, there is plenty of time to do your favorite sport – Gymnastics!
- Explore Vestfold! There are so much to do in this area: cycling, hiking, museums, shopping and more – we can almost guarantee you will find an activity you like!
- Experience Norwegian summer – Norwegians love summer! After a long and cold winter, you will see us smiling and talking a lot about the weather
- Join us for barbecue on our private beach – Barbecue is a typical Norwegian summer activity, and we’ll do this every day if we have the opportunity. And since the sun is up most of the night, the party never ends..
- Start every morning with a bath in the fjord just a quick walk from your bed. But remember, Norwegian has “viking blood” – we don’t mind cold water 😉
- Bring your whole family and make this your best summer holiday ever!
Check out Newsletter 3
Check out Newsletter 2
Check out Newsletter 1