His Majesty King Harald visited the Vålerenga football club in Oslo. The King was welcomed by children from the Valle Hovin Sport kindergarten, young players from the Vålerenga football club and “the street team” when he arrived at the home field of Vålerenga at Valle Hovin stadium. In the men’s locker room at the stadium, King Harald met with representatives from football Norway.
Elida Næss Sæthre, one of the girls playing on Vålerenga’s team for 14-year-old girls, also spoke with the King. Together with teammate Tara Singer-Djahromi and coach Tom Tveråsen, they spoke to His Majesty about youth football during the pandemic and the unity of being a part of a team. The King learned how Vålerenga and other football clubs work to create inclusion and community for all children and young people. Sigrid Heien Hansen from the A-team for women and Christian Dahle Borchgrevink from the A-team for men spoke to the King about their life as football professionals.
During his visit, King Harald said: “Children and youth sports make an important effort to include everyone. There is room for everyone. That is great. For children and young people, sport should be an arena for play and fun. Here you do not have to be so very good. The most important thing is to have fun with classmates and club mates.”
Vålerenga Football club has more than 1400 members from 74 nationalities. The King also learned more about Vålerenga’s community involvement and social projects. After speaking together in the locker room, a program awaited the King on the field where the elite league team of Vålerenga Football and Vålerenga Football Women played a short match. At the end of the visit, King Harald was presented with a Vålerenga costume with “HaraldR” and the number V as a gift.
