Lysgårdsbakkene Stadion
Encyclopedia
Lysgårdsbakken, officially known as Lysgårdsbakkene Ski Jumping Arena , is a ski jumping hill
in Lillehammer
, Norway
. It consists of a large hill, with a K-point of 123 and a hill size
of 138, and a small hill with a K-point of 90 and a hill size of 100. It opened in 1993 for the 1994 Winter Olympics
, where it hosted the ski jumping
and Nordic combined
events, as well as the opening
and closing
ceremonies. After the Olympics, ownership was transferred to the municipal Lillehammer Olympiapark and it has since been used for several FIS Ski Jumping World Cup and FIS Nordic Combined World Cup tournaments, including hosting the Nordic Tournament
. It has a capacity for 35,000 spectators and is one of three national ski jumping hills in Norway. In 2007, the large hill was rebuilt to a larger profile, and received a new plastic lining. The venue sees 80,000 annual jumps in the winter and 20,000 in the summer season.
in Fåberg
, north of Lillehammer. However, the venue was rejected by the broadcasting planners, and instead it was decided that an all-new venue would be built at Lysgård. Financing of the venue was given through a grant issued by the Parliament of Norway on 1 August 1990. Architects were ØKAW Architects, with Martin M. Bakken as the main contractor. Construction had already stated earlier in 1990, and it was completed by December 1992. The seating area was made with pre-fabricated concrete elements with metal bars. Temporary buildings and facilities for the opening ceremonies were installed in December 1993, and removed after the Olympics. This included 70 commentator boxes, a media center, and offices for technical personnel. The original construction included plastic on the outrun and porcelain tracks on the small hill, allowing jumping during summer. The venue was placed deep in the terrain to shield the jumpers from the wind while minimizing the venue's impact in the surroundings. The National Association of Norwegian Architects awarded the hill the 1993 Concrete Award. In 2007, the large hill was renovated. The profile was expanded, increasing the K-point from 120 to 123. In addition, plastic way was laid, allowing both hills to be used during summer.
on the Dovre Line and would then walk to the stadium.
The small hill has a K-point of 90 and a hill size of 100. It has a 36 degree slope for the outrun and a 11 degree slope for the approach. The height difference is 112 metres (367.5 ft) and the approach is 82 metres (269 ft) long. Prior to 2007, the large hill had a K-point of 123, a 27.5 degree slope for the outrun and a 11.5 degree slope for the approach. The height difference was 137 metres (449.5 ft), while the approach is 96.6 metres (316.9 ft) long. After 2007, the hill size was increased to 138 and the K-point to 123.
and two Nordic combined
events, in addition to the opening and closing ceremonies. Competition evens consisted of individual normal hill, individual large hill
, and team large hill
in ski jumping, and individual and team small hill for Nordic combined.
Lysgårdsbakken is a regular site for FIS Ski Jumping World Cup and FIS Nordic Combined World Cup tournaments. FIS Ski Jumping World Cup has been hosted nearly every year since 1993. Since 2004, with the exception of 2007 and 2010, Lysgårdsbakken is a co-host of the Nordic Tournament
. The FIS Nordic Combined World Cup has been hosted nine times, in 1993, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2009, and 2010. All tournaments have been held in December; nine of the ten have had the cross-country skiing part held at nearby Birkebeineren Ski Stadium, while in 2001 the cross-country skiing was held at Beitostølen
. Lillehammer is the only candidate city for the 2016 Winter Youth Olympics
. If selected, Lysgårdsbakken would be used for ski jumping and Nordic combined.
The hill record for the large hill is 146 metres (479 ft), set by Simon Amman in 2009. The summer record for the large hill is 140.5 metres (461 ft), set by Thomas Lobben in 2007. The winter record for the small hill is 104 metres (341.2 ft), set by Espen Bredesen
during the 1994 Olympics. The summer small hill record is 106.5 metres (349.4 ft), set by Daniela Iraschko
in 2010.
The hill is one of three national ski jumping hills in Norway, with the other two being Holmenkollbakken in Oslo
and Granåsen
in
Trondheim
. Lysgårdsbakken is regularly used as a training venue, and sees 80,000 winter jumps and 20,000 summer jumps per year.
In 2005, the hills were the eleventh-most visited tourist attraction in Norway. The hill has a souvenir shop and visitors are permitted to take the elevator to the top of the hill. Alternatively, tourists can walk the 954 steps to the top. In 2006, the BBC One
television show Top Gears episode "Winter Olympics Special", was filmed at various Olympic venues around Lillehammer. It included a successful attempt at a ski jump using an unoccupied rocket-powered British Leyland Mk V Mini
. KT Tunstall
shot the majority of the video for her 2008 single If Only
at Lysgårdsbakken.
Ski jumping hill
A ski jumping hill is a sports venue used for ski jumping. They vary in size from temporary hand-made snow structures to permanent competition venues. At the top is an in-run where the jumper runs down to generate sufficient speed, before reaching the jump. The skier is then airborne until landing...
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...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. It consists of a large hill, with a K-point of 123 and a hill size
Hill size
Hill size is a measurement for the size of a ski jumping hill. It is calculated based on the technical data of a hill based on radius, angle of inclination and record distance...
of 138, and a small hill with a K-point of 90 and a hill size of 100. It opened in 1993 for 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...
, where it hosted the ski jumping
Ski jumping at the 1994 Winter Olympics
The 1994 Winter Olympic Games Ski Jumping results-Large hill:February 20, 1994-Normal hill:February 25, 1994-Team large hill:February 22, 1994-References:*...
and Nordic combined
Nordic combined at the 1994 Winter Olympics
The 1994 Winter Olympic Games Nordic Combined results.-Individual:February 19, 1994-3 x 10 km relay:February 23-24, 1994Japan's margin of victory, preceded by their four minute margin of victory at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Falun the previous year, would lead the FIS to change the...
events, as well as the opening
1994 Winter Olympics opening ceremony
The 1994 Winter Olympics opening ceremony took place on 12 February 1994 at Lysgårdsbakken in Lillehammer, Norway. Artistic content was made to present a range of Norwegian culture, included Sami joik, Telemark skiing, fiddlers and folk dancing, simulations of traditional weddings and their...
and closing
1994 Winter Olympics closing ceremony
The 1994 Winter Olympics closing ceremony was held in Lysgårdsbakken in Lillehammer, Norway on 27 February 1994. All spectators were handed a flashlight with the inscription "Remember Sarajevo"—the host of the 1984 Winter Olympics which was at the heart of the Bosnian War. The first entrants on the...
ceremonies. After the Olympics, ownership was transferred to the municipal Lillehammer Olympiapark and it has since been used for several FIS Ski Jumping World Cup and FIS Nordic Combined World Cup tournaments, including hosting the Nordic Tournament
Nordic Tournament
The Nordic Tournament is an annual ski jumping tournament that is a part of the FIS Ski Jumping World Cup. The tournament started in 1997 as a counterpart to the widely successful Four Hills Tournament in Germany and Austria...
. It has a capacity for 35,000 spectators and is one of three national ski jumping hills in Norway. In 2007, the large hill was rebuilt to a larger profile, and received a new plastic lining. The venue sees 80,000 annual jumps in the winter and 20,000 in the summer season.
Construction
The plans which were approved when Lillehammer were awarded the 1994 Winter Olympics, involved using the existing BalbergbakkenBalbergbakken
Balbergbakken or Balbergbakkene was a ski jumping hill complex located at Fåberg in Lillehammer, Norway. The centerpiece consisted of a large hill with a construction point of , in addition to three smaller K-40, K-25 and K-15 hills. The venue was opened in 1972, having cost slightly more than one...
in Fåberg
Fåberg
Fåberg is a village and former municipality in Oppland county, Norway.The parish of Faaberg was established as a municipality January 1, 1838 . On January 1, 1964 Fåberg was incorporated into the neighboring municipality Lillehammer. Prior to the merger Fåberg had 13,381 inhabitants.The district...
, north of Lillehammer. However, the venue was rejected by the broadcasting planners, and instead it was decided that an all-new venue would be built at Lysgård. Financing of the venue was given through a grant issued by the Parliament of Norway on 1 August 1990. Architects were ØKAW Architects, with Martin M. Bakken as the main contractor. Construction had already stated earlier in 1990, and it was completed by December 1992. The seating area was made with pre-fabricated concrete elements with metal bars. Temporary buildings and facilities for the opening ceremonies were installed in December 1993, and removed after the Olympics. This included 70 commentator boxes, a media center, and offices for technical personnel. The original construction included plastic on the outrun and porcelain tracks on the small hill, allowing jumping during summer. The venue was placed deep in the terrain to shield the jumpers from the wind while minimizing the venue's impact in the surroundings. The National Association of Norwegian Architects awarded the hill the 1993 Concrete Award. In 2007, the large hill was renovated. The profile was expanded, increasing the K-point from 120 to 123. In addition, plastic way was laid, allowing both hills to be used during summer.
Facilities
The hill has a capacity for 35,000 spectators, of which 7,500 can be seated. In addition, up to 25,000 people can followed the games from free areas around the venue. Auxiliary structures include a start house, a judges tower—which includes office space for organizers and judges—a media building, and a technical room below the stands, as well as a first aid room and restrooms. It also features a high-pressure snow production facility with outtakes all along the approach and outrun. Transport to the tower of the large hill is accessible via a chair lift. During the Olympics, transport to the venues was mostly by railway. Spectators discharged at Lillehammer StationLillehammer Station
Lillehammer is a railway station located in downtown Lillehammer, Norway, on the Dovre Line. The station was opened in 1894 with the construction of the railway between Hamar Station and Tretten Station. The station got a major overhaul before the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer...
on the Dovre Line and would then walk to the stadium.
The small hill has a K-point of 90 and a hill size of 100. It has a 36 degree slope for the outrun and a 11 degree slope for the approach. The height difference is 112 metres (367.5 ft) and the approach is 82 metres (269 ft) long. Prior to 2007, the large hill had a K-point of 123, a 27.5 degree slope for the outrun and a 11.5 degree slope for the approach. The height difference was 137 metres (449.5 ft), while the approach is 96.6 metres (316.9 ft) long. After 2007, the hill size was increased to 138 and the K-point to 123.
Events
During the 1994 Winter Olympics, the venue hosted three ski jumpingSki jumping at the 1994 Winter Olympics
The 1994 Winter Olympic Games Ski Jumping results-Large hill:February 20, 1994-Normal hill:February 25, 1994-Team large hill:February 22, 1994-References:*...
and two Nordic combined
Nordic combined at the 1994 Winter Olympics
The 1994 Winter Olympic Games Nordic Combined results.-Individual:February 19, 1994-3 x 10 km relay:February 23-24, 1994Japan's margin of victory, preceded by their four minute margin of victory at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Falun the previous year, would lead the FIS to change the...
events, in addition to the opening and closing ceremonies. Competition evens consisted of individual normal hill, individual large hill
Ski jumping at the 1994 Winter Olympics – Large hill individual
The large hill individual ski jumping at the 1994 Winter Olympics was held at Lysgårdsbakken on 25 February 1994.-Results:...
, and team large hill
Ski jumping at the 1994 Winter Olympics – Large hill team
The large hill team ski jumping at the 1994 Winter Olympics was held at Lysgårdsbakken on 22 February 1994.-Results:...
in ski jumping, and individual and team small hill for Nordic combined.
Lysgårdsbakken is a regular site for FIS Ski Jumping World Cup and FIS Nordic Combined World Cup tournaments. FIS Ski Jumping World Cup has been hosted nearly every year since 1993. Since 2004, with the exception of 2007 and 2010, Lysgårdsbakken is a co-host of the Nordic Tournament
Nordic Tournament
The Nordic Tournament is an annual ski jumping tournament that is a part of the FIS Ski Jumping World Cup. The tournament started in 1997 as a counterpart to the widely successful Four Hills Tournament in Germany and Austria...
. The FIS Nordic Combined World Cup has been hosted nine times, in 1993, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2009, and 2010. All tournaments have been held in December; nine of the ten have had the cross-country skiing part held at nearby Birkebeineren Ski Stadium, while in 2001 the cross-country skiing was held at Beitostølen
Beitostølen
Beitostølen is a village in Øystre Slidre, Norway. As of 1 January 2009, it had 247 residents, and is located above mean sea level. It is largely a tourist area, with many cabins and hotels serving various winter sports facilities. The village has hosted FIS Cross-Country World Cup and Biathlon...
. Lillehammer is the only candidate city for the 2016 Winter Youth Olympics
2016 Winter Youth Olympics
The 2016 Winter Youth Olympics is a major international sports and cultural festival to be celebrated in the tradition of the Youth Olympic Games in the Winter of 2016 during the XXXI Olympiad....
. If selected, Lysgårdsbakken would be used for ski jumping and Nordic combined.
The hill record for the large hill is 146 metres (479 ft), set by Simon Amman in 2009. The summer record for the large hill is 140.5 metres (461 ft), set by Thomas Lobben in 2007. The winter record for the small hill is 104 metres (341.2 ft), set by Espen Bredesen
Espen Bredesen
Espen Bredesen is a Norwegian ski jumper who competed from 1990 to 2000 representing Oppsal IL/Kollenhopp in Oslo.At the 1992 Winter Olympics, he performed badly, coming last in the normal hill and 57th out of 59 on the large hill. He had converted from the classical to the V-style just a month...
during the 1994 Olympics. The summer small hill record is 106.5 metres (349.4 ft), set by Daniela Iraschko
Daniela Iraschko
Daniela Iraschko is an Austrian ski jumper who has been competing since 2000. She is best known for her three ski jumping victories at the Holmenkollen ski festival...
in 2010.
The hill is one of three national ski jumping hills in Norway, with the other two being Holmenkollbakken in Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
and Granåsen
Granåsen
Granåsen is a ski jumping hill, located in Granåsen skicenter in Trondheim, Norway. The hill frequently hosts World Cup and Continental Cup competitions arranged by FIS. The hill sports one K-90 hill and one K-124 hill....
in
Trondheim
Trondheim
Trondheim , historically, Nidaros and Trondhjem, is a city and municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. With a population of 173,486, it is the third most populous municipality and city in the country, although the fourth largest metropolitan area. It is the administrative centre of...
. Lysgårdsbakken is regularly used as a training venue, and sees 80,000 winter jumps and 20,000 summer jumps per year.
In 2005, the hills were the eleventh-most visited tourist attraction in Norway. The hill has a souvenir shop and visitors are permitted to take the elevator to the top of the hill. Alternatively, tourists can walk the 954 steps to the top. In 2006, the BBC One
BBC One
BBC One is the flagship television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It was launched on 2 November 1936 as the BBC Television Service, and was the world's first regular television service with a high level of image resolution...
television show Top Gears episode "Winter Olympics Special", was filmed at various Olympic venues around Lillehammer. It included a successful attempt at a ski jump using an unoccupied rocket-powered British Leyland Mk V Mini
Mini
The Mini is a small car that was made by the British Motor Corporation and its successors from 1959 until 2000. The original is considered a British icon of the 1960s, and its space-saving front-wheel-drive layout influenced a generation of car-makers...
. KT Tunstall
KT Tunstall
Kate Victoria "KT" Tunstall is a Scottish singer-songwriter and guitarist from St Andrews, Scotland. She broke into the public eye with a 2004 live solo performance of her song "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" on Later... with Jools Holland...
shot the majority of the video for her 2008 single If Only
If Only (KT Tunstall song)
"If Only" is an alternative rock song performed by Scottish singer KT Tunstall. The song was written by Tunstall and Jimmy Hogarth for Tunstall's third album Drastic Fantastic . It was released as the album's third single in the United Kingdom on March 3, 2008...
at Lysgårdsbakken.