JOURNEY HOME: The national hockey team is allowed to travel home from the quarantine hotel at Scandic Helsfyr. Photo: Javad Parsa
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HELSFYR (VG) After first traveling to the quarantine hotel, the hockey boys received the counter message: They are allowed to be in the home quarantine.
Just updated
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– I have only received a message about it. I understood that it was a municipal chief physician in Oslo who had that authority. This is good news for ours, but at the same time it completes the chaos, says Secretary General of the Norwegian Ice Hockey Association, Ottar Eide.
The Ministry of Culture writes to VG that they do not know about the assessments and refers to Oslo Municipality for an answer after the hockey boys were released from quarantine hotels.
On Tuesday afternoon, the municipal chief physician in Oslo, Frode Hagen, writes this in a message to VG:
«Oslo Municipality has graduated the national hockey team according to the Covid 19 regulations § 6-f, which provides exceptions for top athletes. Unfortunately, national teams, apart from the national football team, and otherwise top athletes who compete or prepare for the Olympics, have no exceptions. Thus, an incorrect assessment has been made, and the municipality does its utmost to follow up the national hockey team and ensure that these receive the necessary tests and follow-up further. The players are now in quarantine in their own homes, and it is important that they follow the infection control rules that apply at all times.
National team player Tommy Kristiansen says that he was moved when he heard the decision that they could serve the quarantine at home.
– It was completely insane. There was a lot of joy in the body then. That was great news. Both I and those at home were overwhelmingly happy. It’s going to be a nice night. She had not expected me to come, so there were some tears of joy on the phone, Kristiansen says to VG.
JOURNEY HOME: The national hockey team is allowed to travel home from the quarantine hotel at Scandic Helsfyr.
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When Kristiansen chose to go abroad, his firstborn was only two weeks old. A month later, he no longer has to wait three days in a hotel before he can see her again.
– I made my toughest decision ever when I chose to go to the World Cup, but at the same time I have learned that I will always compete for Norway. It will be beautiful to come home. It was absolutely amazing and I do not know what to say, that there were some who managed to see what was right and wrong.
– Life looks a little brighter than it would have done on day two at a quarantine hotel?
– It would not have been much positive then. First, I was afraid I might get infected too. This was great news. Now I look forward to enjoying the evening.
—-JOURNEY HOME: Here the hockey boys fly home. Photo: Javad Parsa
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Coach Petter Thoresen has been ruthless in his criticism by the authorities – because until Tuesday there was a requirement that his national ice hockey team had to be quarantined in hotels after returning from the World Cup.
– I’m cursed on behalf of the players who have sacrificed seven weeks. They have been looking forward to going home to their dear family members and playing on the floor with their children, Thoresen thundered.
The message has been that the team can only test itself out of that quarantine after three days in the hotel quarantine.
At the same time, others have been granted exemptions from the rules. The exception applies to athletes who are candidates for the Olympics and Paralympics in Tokyo, as well as the national football team.
The national hockey team has been concerned with “equality before the law”.
Ottar Eide thinks it all becomes too arbitrary.
– It is absolutely correct that it is done, but it is too coincidental that it is a local municipal doctor. You are in quarantine hotels in several municipalities and it can be decisive where you land. I’m just happy on behalf of the guys who are now allowed to go home.
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