From: gregw@highland.oz.au (Greg Wilkins)
Subject: Summary: Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway.
Organization: Highland Logic
Date: Mon, 28 Sep 92 01:35:32 GMT


Firstly, thanks to all those who replied: 
 
   klassen,
   Steve Dakin,
   Bjorn Frode Langoren,
   Cameron Strom,
   Bjorn Arne Berge,
   Roger Greenwald,
   Harald Martens Meyer,
   Stein Rypern,
   einart,
   Jim Toerresen,
   Bent Erik Skaug,
   Jim Barnes



LILLEHAMMER:

Lillehammer is a very nice town. It isn't big at all, very few large
buildings, but has lot of interesting things to see. The most famous
thing Lillehammer has is Maihaugen (or the Sandvig Collections). It is
a collection of old Norwegian buildings placed in a natural
environment, and it tries to give an impression of the old Norway.
Many of the houses are several hundred years old, and it is really a
nice place. You might compare it with "Old Sydney Town", but quite
different. At Oyer there is a place called "Lilleputthammer" - it is
mainly Lillehammer in miniature. At Oyer there is also a place called
"Hunderfossen" - a family-park mainly for the Summer, but it is
possible to visit some exhibitions which tells about the old Norwegian
folk-tales, and there is also a Troll there in real size (quite
spectacular).  The Signal Regiment, located in Lillehammer, will offer
some kind of exhibition, that is at least the plan. The Peer Gynt Road
is a road that takes you into the famous Norwegian mountains, and if
you have read "Peer Gynt", it takes you to the place where Peer was
captured by the Trolls, and where most of the story about him took
place. Another road, "Vinjevegen" (the Vinje Road) takes you over to
the "Osterdalen" from "Gudbrandsdalen" ("dalen" = "valley")

The area around Lillehammer is beautiful. Especially for skiing. The
downhill men is going to take place at Kvitfjell (WhiteMountain) and
the rest of the alpin events at Hafjell. Both of the places is good to
go skiing. 

The main street in Lillehammer is Storgata (`Big street').

Most competitions will take place in Lillehammer area. 
Ice hockey will take place in Hamar
Figure skating in Gjovik.
All the places are against the lake Mjosa.

Lillehammer is a fairly large town by norwegian standards, but quite a
bit smaller than Trondheim, Bergen and Oslo. I'd guess that there are
some 20 or 30 thousand people living there, but that could be off by a
factor of 2 either way.

It lies on the northern end of lake Mjosa, our largest lake, and marks
the border between the fertile flatlands and the mountain valley
Guldbrands-dalen.  To the south is the larger town of Hamar
(Lillehammer mean, litterally, "little hamar"). In the valley the river
Guldbrandsdals-laagen flows. Lillehammer is mostly built up the west
side of a hill,to the east of the river and lake, but has started to
spill over the river to the west.

Among the attractions of Lillehammer is first and foremost the
'Maihaugen' (May Hill) collection of old norwegian houses, transported
in from many parts of the country. They also have a very nice car
museum and a lot of terrain :-) 

The famous skirace "Birkebeineren" is 55 km. long, and goes between
Rena and Lillehammer over the mountains.

TRANSPORT:

Cars will not be allowed in the Lillehammer area, except for residents and
VIPs.  Public transport will be good and they are currently improving the
roads, rail and rolling stock.

Direct trains are going from Oslo and Trondheim every morning during
the games. So day tripping will be possible from both these cities.
They can transport about 100.000 people every morning and evening.

The Osterdalen is a parallel valley, and is also a good choice for
accomodation,as they are improving the connections.

TICKETS:

Tickets within Norway are being issued via some form of lottery, to
cope with the demand.  175,000 are available for sale outside of
Norway, and will be handled by each countries local National Olympic
commitee (NOC).  Here in Australia, the NOC will appoint a travel agent
to sell the tickets some time after X-mas.

SKIING:

If you want to go skiing in the Lillehammer area during the Olympics '94
you better start training now...But there are lots of areas a few hours drive from Lillehammer you can try: Hemsedal, Trysil, Fagernes, Oppdal, + +
There will probably be snow in all the cites during winter Olympics
(but also maybe crowded).

If I where you I would rather go to some other skiing area in Norway for some
days to be sure to get skiing. Try Hemsedal, Oppdal, Geilo or Trysil. They are
great, and there will possibly not be to many people there during the olympics.

The sjusjoen (Seven Lakes) area some few kilometers east of Lillehammer
is very good for cross-country skiing. I guess the best terrain for
down-hill skiing would be to the north, either in the main valley or in
the small western loop of Gausdal. Gausdal has a couple of tourist
hotels based on downhill skiing

The downhill Skiing in the area (Lillehammer) are "Hafjell" and
"Kvitfjell" ("fjell"="mountain"). In Hafjell they will run all the
women alpine events and slalom/giant-slalom for men, and in Kvitfjell
(already looked upon as one of the most difficult/steepest down-hill
slopes in the world :-) they will run Super-G and Downhill for men.
Both the resorts are pretty big, Hafjell is not so very different from
Threadbo, a bit smaller though, but I guess they will be pretty crowded
by the Olympic participants. BUT, farther North in Gudbrandsdalen there
are several good resorts for downhill skiing, and just 2 hours travel
East you'll find "Trysilfjellet" - Norways biggest downhill skiresort,
which is one of the best in Norway. They have 23 lifts at the moment,
but they are planning to make even more.


ACCOMODATION:

It is going to be expensive, but consider day tripping from Olso or Trondheim.
Try writting to "Information service, LOOC, N-2600 LILLEHAMMER, NORWAY". 
Also the local NOCs may also help to some degree.




Thanks again for all this information and see you all on the slopes!

Greg Wilkins @ Highland Logic 
       Snail : Suite 1, 348 Argyle St., MossVale, NSW, 2577, Australia
       Email : gregw@highland.oz.au
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