The City of Oslo
Anonymous | 23.08.2008 
Sunset in Oslo (Photo (c) Nancy Bundt / visit Oslo) |
Oslo, the capital city of Norway, will be the seat of the XI International Symposium for Biomechanics and Medicine in Swimming, June 2010. Oslo and Norway in general, are well known for their beauty and offer excellent opportunities for holiday excursions. It is our hope that Symposium participants will have the opportunity to experience some of the world- renowned beauty of Norway. |
The City of Oslo was founded by Harald Hardraade (Harald the Hard) in approx. 1050, east of the current city centre. King Haakon V built Akershus Fortress about 1300 and later the same century, the city was visited by the Black Death. Norway became a Danish possession in 1536 as its lumber industry was getting started. In 1624 the entire city was destroyed by fire. King Christian IV rebuilt the city around Akershus Fortress, further west at the natural head of the harbour. He renamed it Christiania, a name it held for 300 yrs.
The lumber industry enjoyed its golden age in the early 1800’s with Oslo as its centre and trade with Europe grew as the shipping industry grew.
The University of Oslo was founded in 1811 in the city centre, at the site which today houses the Faculty of Law.
The city today is approx. 453 km2 and is the home to approx. ½ million people. When including suburbs, the population is over 1 million, one fourth of the population of the whole country. Nearly ¾ of the city is forest and green areas. With the beautiful Nordmarka Forest on three sides and Oslo Fjord on the south, Oslo is properly considered to be the European capital with the easiest access to nature. The forest and the sea can virtually be reached from anywhere in the city by public transport within ca 15min.
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Holmenkollen (Photo (c) Espen Bratlie / Visit Oslo)
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Oslo abounds with attractive sites worthy of experiencing. A variety of architectural and historical sites provide something for everyone. The more popular include Holmenkollen, the site of the famous Holmenkollen Ski Jump and National Ski Arena. Local and international events, including World Cup events, are held here in ski jumping, cross country skiing, biathlon and combined skiing.Skiing is considered Norway’s national sport and it is fitting that the Ski Museum is also located here. Summer as well as winter, Holmenkollen is also one of the main ports into Nordmarka Forest. Here there are approx. 3000km of lighted ski trails allowing people to ski after work in the short days of winter. The forest also boasts a network of cabins operated by the Norwegian Tour Association for the benefit of skiers and hikers. |
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Vigeland Park (photo (c) Nancy Bundt / visit Oslo)
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Another must for visitors is Vigeland Sculpture Park. A park within a park, it lies within Frogner Park. The greater park includes vast grassy areas and a network of walkways and flower beds. There is an outdoor aquatic centre with four pools and a water slide facility. Vigeland Park is a tract of land within Frogner Park, given to the famous sculptor Gustav Vigeland to do with as he pleased. And what pleased the engineer, architect, sculptor Vigeland, remains a favourite of visitors today. Intricately designed walkways in an exquisitely pleasing geometric pattern, guide the visitor among over 600 sculptures in bronze, granite and wrought iron. |
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Akershus Fortress in the heart of the city stands guard over approach by sea. Built in approx. 1300 by King Haakon the V, it became the central feature of the new city after the great fire of 1624 destroyed the old city. Today it boasts a variety of facilities including great halls, the Norwegian Armed Forces Museum and The Resistance Museum which commemorates Norways struggle to regain its freedom during World War II. On a promontory above the harbour, it is the highlight of the city’s horizon and at night, glows with lights like a crown. |
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Aker Brygge and The city Hall (photo by Visit Oslo)
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Aker brygge wharf was once a peninsular area of warehouses which served the vast shipping industry which landed their cargoes in Oslo. Today it has been renovated into a vast area of restaurants, shopping centres, offices, apartments, and in the summer receives thousands of visitors every day. It lies adjacent to the City Hall Square and the Nobel Peace Prize Centre. |
 Oslo City Hall (photo (c) Visit Oslo / Gunnar Strøm) |
The City Hall, begun in 1931 and only completed in 1950 being interrupted by the war, is a striking building overlooking the City Hall Square and Oslo Fjord. Its greatest beauty however, lies within. It houses many rooms of beauty used for a variety of functions public and private as well as the city administration. The BMS welcome reception will be held in the magnificent Great Hall.
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And all within walking distance of the city centre one can also enjoy the King’s Castle and Castle Park, the Parliament Building, the National Theatre, the new and widely acclaimed Oslo Opera, the National Art Gallery, Oslo Cathedral and many others sites. In summer, your walk will be spiced by sidewalk stalls and street musicians.
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The Polar Ship Fram (visit Oslo/Gunnar Strøm)
The Oseberg Viking Ship at The Viking Ship Museum (Nancy Bundt / visit Oslo).
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The rich maritime and exploration tradition of Norway is displayed for the public on the peninsula of Bygdøy. It is easily reached by ferry boat from the City Hall Square in about 10 min. Here you will find Thor Heyerdahl’s Kon Tiki, Ra II and a variety of exhibits depicting his adventures and scientific expeditions. Fridtjof Nansen’s and Roald Amundsens polarship Fram is next door. At the same site you will also find the Norwegian Maritime Museum. The best preserved Viking ships ever found are displayed not far away at the Viking Ship Museum and together with a wide variety of artefacts gives us a glimpse of the past. Lastly, Bygdøy boasts one of Europe’s largest open-air museums, the Norwegian Museum of cultural history, with buildings from all over Norway as well as a huge array of other exhibits.
Museums not already described include the National Gallery, the Edvard Munch Museum and Gallery, the Norwegian Museum of Technology, the Henrik Ibsen Museum, the Natural History Museum and Botanical Garden, The Nobel Peace Prize Centre, and others. |
Join us in 2010 and enjoy not only the world’s premier scientific congress for swimming but also the beauty of the host city and perhaps more of Norway.