How did Norway come to dominate the Winter Olympics?

It focuses on making sports fun for their young people

How did Norway come to dominate the Winter Olympics?As I write this, Norway is tied for second in total medals and gold medals at the Beijing Winter Olympic Games. Norwegians are projected to take home 45 medals by the end of these Games, surpassing the 39 they won at the 2018 Winter Olympics. That total was way above those for the United States,…

Youth sports opportunity gap widens during pandemic

Norway has a successful youth sports system, accessible to all. The national lottery earmarks millions for youth sports every year

Youth sports opportunity gap widens during pandemicI’ve been a youth sports coach for 17 years. For the most part, it’s been very rewarding. However, one of the hardest aspects has been watching kids drop out of sports because they no longer can afford to pay to play. It’s heartbreaking. Social injustice is a hot topic these days. However, there’s one area…

Pandemic has exposed our scandalous neglect of the elderly

Canada has shunted vulnerable people to nursing homes where staff slave in sometimes filthy, and now dangerous, conditions

Pandemic has exposed our scandalous neglect of the elderlyI hadn’t really thought of moving to Norway until the last week, when I began to pay attention to how that country cares for its elderly citizens. While North Americans warehouse aging people, who have spent lifetimes contributing to society, there are cultures around the world that take a completely different approach. And Norway, it…

In true competition, there are no losers

We’re all meant to develop our own talents, and we’re better able to achieve unimaginable heights when we don’t strive to win, but to truly compete

In true competition, there are no losersThe word competition often draws to mind hard-nosed athletes and coaches who will do anything to win. We imagine the tough business executive who will eliminate all adversaries to make the greatest profit. But in fact, the win-at-all-costs attitude brings only short-term success. In order to win in the long run, one needs a much…

Holiday reading: Get lost in Lands of Lost Borders

Kate Harris’s book is a must for the travellers on your gift list; discovering Norway and Iceland; indulging in a wellness weekend

Holiday reading: Get lost in Lands of Lost BordersModern explorer Kate Harris’s story may not compel you to follow in the skinny tire tracks she left on an often-gruelling bicycle trip on the ancient Silk Road trading route. But one thing is for sure: She’ll leave you breathless with her beautiful writing about her 10,000-kilometre cycling odyssey through 10 countries in her book…

We need breathalyzer testing on demand

Bill C-46 would contribute to public safety, help address the serious court backlog problem and save taxpayers a lot of money

We need breathalyzer testing on demandMarjory LeBreton, a former leader of the Conservatives in the Senate, has a family tragedy in her past: her daughter and grandson were killed by a drunk driver. LeBreton is unhappy that her former Senate colleagues have voted to gut Bill C-46, which gives police the right to stop a vehicle and demand that the…

The left loses its way in country after country

Populist right-wing parties with surprising sticking power are on the rise

The left loses its way in country after countryWith votes in Norway, Germany and New Zealand, September has been an interesting month for general elections. And while each had its own characteristics, it’s fair to say the stories have something in common. First, though, let’s take a look at them one by one. When Norway went to the polls on Sept. 11, the…