– With so much war and conflict in the world, it is tasteless. It’s shocking to see Norwegian athletes competing with a bullet on their helmets, says Frank Conde Tangberg to NRK.
He is a political advisor at Amnesty, which has been critical of the ski jump national team’s collaboration with Nammo since it started in 2010.
– There is a bullet in our logo because we make ammunition. It is something we need to defend the country. For us, the signal effect is about doing what is morally right and standing up for freedom and democracy, Nammo responds in an email to NRK.
Norway’s biggest ski jumping star, Halvor Egner Granerud, has jumped with the Nammo logo as long as he has been on the national team.
– I understand that people react. They should be allowed to, he says to NRK in Lillehammer.
– But I display that logo with confidence.
– Nammo is a cornerstone company in Norway that helps us achieve the investment goals we have in NATO. In addition, they have helped us a lot on the national team with research on aerodynamics.
SHOWING OFF THE LOGO WITH CONFIDENCE: Halvor Egner Granerud has no problems with the Nammo logo, which he previously had on his chest. Now the controversial bullet is placed on the forehead.
Photo: Jørgen Leangen / NRK
The company mainly manufactures weapon parts, rocket fuel, and ammunition at its facilities in Raufoss and through subsidiaries in the USA, among others.
Nammo has responded in writing to the criticism they have received in this article. You can see their response further down in the piece.
This is the issue:
Not breaking rules or laws
Women have already adorned their helmets with the logo for a while. Ahead of this season, the agreement was expanded, giving them even greater visibility in the men’s category.
BULLET IN THE LOGO: This is the logo that has caused outrage among Amnesty and others including the Palestine Committee.
Nammo is partly owned by the Norwegian state and does not break rules or laws related to the export of war materials.
– This means we do not have complete oversight of where all of Nammo’s production ends, says Tangberg.
He is referring to accusations the company has received about its products ending up in Israel.
– When you then get this logo in your face on TV while enjoying ski jumping on a Saturday morning, we find it concerning. It sends a strange signal.
SHOCKED: Frank Conde Tangberg is
– Nammo’s rocket engines have saved thousands of lives in Ukraine: without them, they would have lost about half of their air defense. We are very proud of that and that we contribute to strengthening Norway’s, the Nordics’, and NATO’s defense capability.
– Those who think this is wrong should maybe have their moral compass checked.
RESPONDING TO THE CRITICISM: Thorstein Korsvold is puzzled by the criticism that comes against Nammo’s sponsorship of the ski jumping national team.
– In the spirit of sports, one might note that all sports arenas on the Gaza Strip are destroyed. It is strange to see a Norwegian athlete with ammunition on their forehead.
She calls it all “tactless and deaf to the tone.”
DRAWS PARALLELS: Line Khateeb, leader of the Palestine Committee, experiences painful associations when she sees the jumpers’ helmets.
Olav Gjøystdal is also part of the same committee and is a former ski jumper. He has since stopped following his former sport on television.
– In light of the situation in Gaza, it is utterly incomprehensible that the Norwegian Ski Federation and the ski jumping national team choose to intensify their collaboration with Nammo. It makes me angry and ashamed.
The accusations from the Palestine Committee, Nammo director Korsvold argues, stem from ignorance and perhaps more from a dislike of the defense industry.
– However, we believe it is important to defend democracy and freedom, especially now with war at Europe’s doorstep. We otherwise have very little to do with Israel.
Shaking his head
NRK’s sports commentator Jan Petter Saltvedt shakes his head when he sees the ski jumping helmet for the first time. He calls it “a bit ignorant and somewhat disrespectful.”
– It cannot get clearer than that, sighs Saltvedt.
– I believe both the Ski Federation and the ski jumping national team know perfectly well what kind of reactions this can provoke. They have already felt a bit of that. Now it is going to get even more.
– The assurances are in place
Stine Korsen is the head of the ski jumping committee. When NRK meets her in Lillehammer, she understands the critical voices. She says that the dialog with Nammo takes place weekly.
They feel secure in the assessments they have made.
– We are constantly making evaluations, which is what you do in a world that is moving forward. This applies to Nammo and everyone else.
– It must be such that our approach to this issue is also respected. And we feel through the work we have done that the assurances necessary for this collaboration are in place.
STANDS BY THE COLLABORATION: Stine Korsen, pictured at an earlier occasion, stands firm in her evaluations regarding having the Nammo logo on the helmet.
– Do you understand the use of words like “shocking, tasteless, and tone-deaf”?
– We are not security policymakers, neither you nor I, so I think we should relate to the background and assessments that have been made regarding the agreement we have with Nammo.
– Have there been disagreements within the federation or national team about this agreement?
– I wouldn’t say that, answers Korsen, concluding the NRK interview.
This is Nammo’s response:
Nammo has been presented with the criticism in writing from NRK. They did not wish to be interviewed, but communications director Thorstein Korsvold writes this in a reply via email:
The accusations from the Palestine Committee and some others show ignorance and perhaps are more about a dislike of the defense industry. However, we believe it is important to defend democracy and freedom, especially now with war at Europe’s doorstep. We otherwise have very little to do with Israel.
There is a bullet in our logo because we make ammunition. It is something we need to defend the country. For us, the signal effect is about doing what is morally right and standing up for freedom and democracy. NRK’s sports commentator unfortunately seems to have a different view.
– What are the ethical implications of sports sponsorships involving defense companies like Nammo?
It appears that you have provided a detailed account of the controversy surrounding the Norwegian defense company Nammo’s involvement in supplying munitions to Israel and its sponsorship of the Norwegian ski jumping national team. The situation has sparked significant criticism, particularly in light of the ongoing conflict in Gaza and the perceived insensitivity of promoting a defense company in the context of such violence.
Key Points from the Document:
- Munitions Supply: Reports allege that Nammo delivered an extensive number of rocket launchers and ammunition to Israel for use in the Gaza conflict. Various Norwegian media sources have covered these claims, highlighting the scale and implications of such exports.
- Nammo’s Response: Nammo’s officials have communicated that they do not have control over the final destination of components produced in the USA, asserting that export decisions are made by the USA.
- Sponsorship Controversy: The collaboration between Nammo and the Norwegian ski jumping team has faced backlash, particularly from groups such as the Palestine Committee and Amnesty, who argue that it’s inappropriate to sport logos of a defense contractor amid ongoing conflict.
- Public Reactions: There are mixed responses from the public and commentators. Some express disappointment and concern about the ethical implications of such sponsorships, while Nammo representatives defend their role in promoting defense capabilities and argue against the criticism.
- Ongoing Discussion: The ski federation maintains that they continue to engage in dialogue with Nammo and are confident in the ethical considerations of their partnership, despite the criticism they face.
This situation highlights the complex interplay between sports sponsorship, corporate responsibility, and geopolitical conflict, sparking discussions on ethical standards in collaborations with defense industries.