Knut Korsæth
Encyclopedia
Knut Villy Korsæth was a Norwegian educator, sports official and politician for the Labour Party
. Mainly working as a school director during his professional life, he was also involved in politics and sports administration where he lived. His highest office was that of County Governor
, and he was also a member of the board of the Norwegian Confederation of Sports
.
. His first job was as a school teacher in Sagene
from 1953 to 1961. At the same time, he completed the examen artium
in 1954, and took exams to work as a teacher in English and physical education. In 1967 he graduated in geography with a minor in history. He had already worked as the municipal school inspector in Flå
since 1961, and in Nordre Land
from 1965 to 1971. He was a member of Nordre Land municipal council from 1967 to 1971. From 1971 to 1974 he was the school director in Lillehammer
. He was the school director of Oppland
county from 1974 to 1981, but had a leave of absence most of the period, as he served as the mayor of Lillehammer from 1975 to 1981. From 1973 to 1981 he was also a deputy member of the Norwegian Parliament. He was then the County Governor of Oppland from 1981 to 2002.
Korsæth was involved in the Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities
between 1976 and 1983. He was also a member of the board of De Sandvigske Samlinger
from 1976 to 1983, of Norsk Rikstoto
from 1988 to 1990 and of Norway Crafts from 1990 to 1995.
Korsæth was also involved in sports for many years. While living in Flå, he was the chairman of the local sports club Flå IL
from 1961 to 1965, and from 1963 to 1965 he was deputy chairman of the district athletics association and chairman of the district skiing association. From 1984 to 1985 he was the chairman of Lillehammer IF
, and chaired the Gudbrandsdal
athletics district association. He also chaired its successor organization, the Oppland
district athletics association, from 1985 to 1987 and 2005 to 2007. He was a member of the central committee of the Norwegian Athletics Association
from 1985 to 1990, and of the Norwegian Confederation of Sports
from 1991 to 1994. He helped organize the 1994 Winter Olympics
at Lillehammer. Also, he chaired the Oppland district sports association from 1994 to 2002, and the handball club Gjøvik og Vardal HK from 2002 to 2004. In 2003 he was proclaimed an honorary member of the Norwegian Olympic Committee and Confederation of Sports. He was also a Commander of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav since 1998.
Norwegian Labour Party
The Labour Party is a social-democratic political party in Norway. It is the senior partner in the current Norwegian government as part of the Red-Green Coalition, and its leader, Jens Stoltenberg, is the current Prime Minister of Norway....
. Mainly working as a school director during his professional life, he was also involved in politics and sports administration where he lived. His highest office was that of County Governor
County Governor
County Governor is a Norwegian government agency represented in 18 of the Norwegian counties responsible for a number of supervision and management duties. The Governor is the representative of the King and Government of Norway in each county, functioning as the connection between the state and...
, and he was also a member of the board of the Norwegian Confederation of Sports
Norwegian Olympic and Paralympic Committee and Confederation of Sports
The Norwegian Olympic and Paralympic Committee and Confederation of Sports is the umbrella organization for sport in Norway. It is the largest volunteering organization in Norway, with more than 2 million members, and 12000 sports clubs, in 19 region confederatons and 56 national federations...
.
Career
He was born in Berg i ØstfoldBerg, Østfold
Berg is a former parish and municipality which now forms part of Halden municipality in Østfold county, Norway.-History:Berg was the main parish in a district which included Rokke and Halden until 1721. Halden subsequently became the main parish in the district. By a royal proclamation in 1769,...
. His first job was as a school teacher in Sagene
Sagene
Sagene is a borough of the city of Oslo, Norway. The area became part of the city of Oslo in 1859.The name Sagene itself is the plural of the Norwegian word for "saw", reflecting all the old industrial mechanical saws powered by the river Akerselvain this area in the 19th and early 20th...
from 1953 to 1961. At the same time, he completed the examen artium
Examen artium
Examen artium was the name of the academic certification conferred in Denmark and Norway, qualifying the student for admission to university studies. Examen artium was originally introduced as the entrance exam of the University of Copenhagen in 1630...
in 1954, and took exams to work as a teacher in English and physical education. In 1967 he graduated in geography with a minor in history. He had already worked as the municipal school inspector in Flå
Flå
Flå is a municipality in Buskerud county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Flå. The municipality of Flå was established when it was separated from the municipality of Nes on 1 January 1905...
since 1961, and in Nordre Land
Nordre Land
Nordre Land is a municipality in Oppland county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Land. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Dokka....
from 1965 to 1971. He was a member of Nordre Land municipal council from 1967 to 1971. From 1971 to 1974 he was the school director in Lillehammer
Lillehammer
is a town and municipality in Oppland county, Norway, globally known for hosting the 1994 Winter Olympics. It is part of the traditional region of Gudbrandsdal. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Lillehammer. As of May 2011, the population of the town of Lillehammer was...
. He was the school director of Oppland
Oppland
is a county in Norway, bordering Sør-Trøndelag, Møre og Romsdal, Sogn og Fjordane, Buskerud, Akershus, Oslo and Hedmark. The county administration is in Lillehammer. Oppland is, together with Hedmark, one of the only two landlocked counties of Norway....
county from 1974 to 1981, but had a leave of absence most of the period, as he served as the mayor of Lillehammer from 1975 to 1981. From 1973 to 1981 he was also a deputy member of the Norwegian Parliament. He was then the County Governor of Oppland from 1981 to 2002.
Korsæth was involved in the Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities
Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities
The Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities is an employers' organisation in Norway.It was founded in 1972 as a merger between the Union of Norwegian Cities and the Norwegian Association of Rural Municipalities...
between 1976 and 1983. He was also a member of the board of De Sandvigske Samlinger
Maihaugen
Maihaugen is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Lillehammer, Norway. Maihaugen, with close to 200 buildings, is one of Northern Europe's largest open air museums and is one of the largest cultural facilities in Norway.-History:The founder, Anders Sandvig, collected from old houses and...
from 1976 to 1983, of Norsk Rikstoto
Norsk Rikstoto
The Norsk Rikstoto is a foundation that supervises parimutuel betting on animal racing in Norway.It was established on 24 September 1982 by the Norwegian Trotting Association and the Norwegian Jockey Club to run a totalizator game named V6. Norsk Tipping administered most such games until 1993,...
from 1988 to 1990 and of Norway Crafts from 1990 to 1995.
Korsæth was also involved in sports for many years. While living in Flå, he was the chairman of the local sports club Flå IL
Flå IL
Flå Idrettslag is a Norwegian sports club from Flå, Melhus, Sør-Trøndelag. It has sections for association football, team handball and Nordic skiing....
from 1961 to 1965, and from 1963 to 1965 he was deputy chairman of the district athletics association and chairman of the district skiing association. From 1984 to 1985 he was the chairman of Lillehammer IF
Lillehammer IF
Lillehammer Idrettforening is a Norwegian athletics club from Lillehammer, founded on 28 May 1919. At that time city already had four different sports teams; for cross country skiing , gymnastics , speed skating and football respectively.Its most prominent recent member is Morten Sand, who...
, and chaired the Gudbrandsdal
Gudbrandsdal
The Gudbrandsdalen is a valley and traditional district in the Norwegian county of Oppland. The valley is oriented in a north-westerly direction from Lillehammer at Mjøsa, extending 230 km toward Romsdal...
athletics district association. He also chaired its successor organization, the Oppland
Oppland
is a county in Norway, bordering Sør-Trøndelag, Møre og Romsdal, Sogn og Fjordane, Buskerud, Akershus, Oslo and Hedmark. The county administration is in Lillehammer. Oppland is, together with Hedmark, one of the only two landlocked counties of Norway....
district athletics association, from 1985 to 1987 and 2005 to 2007. He was a member of the central committee of the Norwegian Athletics Association
Norwegian Athletics Association
The Norwegian Athletics Association is the national governing body for the sport of athletics in Norway, including track and field, road running, cross country running and racewalking...
from 1985 to 1990, and of the Norwegian Confederation of Sports
Norwegian Olympic and Paralympic Committee and Confederation of Sports
The Norwegian Olympic and Paralympic Committee and Confederation of Sports is the umbrella organization for sport in Norway. It is the largest volunteering organization in Norway, with more than 2 million members, and 12000 sports clubs, in 19 region confederatons and 56 national federations...
from 1991 to 1994. He helped organize the 1994 Winter Olympics
1994 Winter Olympics
The 1994 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XVII Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event celebrated from 12 to 27 February 1994 in and around Lillehammer, Norway. Lillehammer failed to win the bid for the 1992 event. Lillehammer was awarded the games in 1988, after having beat...
at Lillehammer. Also, he chaired the Oppland district sports association from 1994 to 2002, and the handball club Gjøvik og Vardal HK from 2002 to 2004. In 2003 he was proclaimed an honorary member of the Norwegian Olympic Committee and Confederation of Sports. He was also a Commander of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav since 1998.