Siumut politician Lars Poulsen has questioned Nivi Olsen's business trip to the Winter Olympics, "when Naalakkersuisut has called for national unity and focus on Greenland's pressing challenges at home".
In a longer paragraph 37 response, Nivi Olsen explains about the trip to Italy, that sports give us an important point of reference in a time of unrest and change.
Necessary free space
- Although we must maintain our attention to both our own challenges and the larger global crises, sport creates a necessary free space, where we can be present, find joy and experience community, she believes, and refers to the fact that music also manages to bring people together across differences, and major events give us a common focal point in the midst of everyday life”.
- The athletes' targeted efforts and dedication inspire us and remind us of the value of pursuing our own ambitions. Therefore, it is crucial that our athletes at international events such as the Olympics feel support – also from an official perspective, states Nivi Olsen.
Own flag
Naalakkersuisoq for Sports further explains that "the dialogue about the long-term desire to one day be able to participate under our own flag at international sports competitions continues and leads to a concrete result in the future”.
- It means a lot to the people of Greenland that one's own identity and national symbols can be shown and represented on the international and sporting stage, it is emphasized.
The trip was not free of charge, as it amounted to 125,000 kroner, which covered expenses for Nivi Olsen and an official. She explains that the Greenlandic flag was on the trip, and "the visible presence contributed to strengthening Greenland's position on the international sports stage".
Several meetings
Nivi Olsen explains that during the Winter Olympics, meetings were arranged with the Danish Minister of Culture, the Danish Sports Federation, Elite Sport Greenland and the Greenland Sports Federation.
- In addition, interviews were given to various media due to the increased attention for our country and the new geopolitical situation we find ourselves in, states Nivi Olsen, who also points out that she also had meetings with, among others, the Danish Minister of Education on current matters.
Erik Jensen received criticism
It is not the first time that there has been a debate about politicians' and especially members of Naalakkersuisut's travel to sporting events.
Back in 2024, when the women's national handball team participated in the World Cup in Norway, the then Naalakkersuisoq Minister of Taxes and Finance Erik Jensen, Siumut, received severe criticism from the opposition by the chairmen of the Democrats Jens-Frederik Nielsen and Naleraq's Pele Broberg.
The two opposition politicians found it difficult to see why a Naalakkersuisut Minister for Finance and Taxes should have a tax-paid experience in the handball hall in Stavanger, where the Greenlandic women captivated the whole world with their courage.
Nivi Olsen was the only politician from Naalakkersuisut who travelled to Italy this year during the Winter Olympics. It is not stated which sports she attended. The Greenlandic biathletes Sondre and Ukaleq Slettemark delivered excellent performances during the Olympic races in Cortina and have expressed gratitude for the support the two siblings received from their home country.
