Geir Lippestad: Advocating for Acceptance of Differences at Beitostølen Health Sports Centre

For over 20 years, the high-profile lawyer and politician Geir Lippestad has contributed voluntarily and professionally at the Beitostølen health sports centre.

Blind Erling Stordahl from Sarpsborg was the man who had the idea for the establishment of the health sports center in Øystre Slidre – 60 years ago.

– Stordahl’s life philosophy that we are all different has also become mine. He paved the way, says Lippestad to Dagsavisen.

Grief about difference

Ten years ago, Geir Lippestad lost his 17-year-old daughter. She was born with a severe muscle disease and was severely disabled.

– My daughter was different. As a father, I admit that it took time to accept, says Lippestad, and continues:

– Only after seven or eight years did I accept the situation, and the grief got over me.

[ – Samfunnet forventer det perfekte, og at vi fjerner barn som er annerledes ]

Geir Lippestad shines a spotlight on society’s glossy images of success. Holiday pictures in social media, often with pasted harmony. – There are many people who feel different today, he says. Archive photo: (Terje Pedersen / NTB)

Current visionary

This summer marks the centenary of the visionary Erling Stordahl (1923-2023). Concerts, summer exhibitions, theater and talks are on the agenda.

In Sarpsborg, there will be a lecture and conversation on Tuesday 1 August with author Jon Gangdal, director of the Beitostølen health sports center – Astrid Nyquist, head of the Norwegian Handikapforbund – Tove Linnea Brandvik and lawyer Geir Lippestad.

“I fought to be normal, because I was afraid of being different,” said Erling Stordahl.

– 60 years later, Stordahl’s thoughts are just as relevant today. Society must accept difference. The UN Convention for Persons with Disabilities has still not been incorporated into Norwegian legislation. It is a shame, emphasizes Geir Lippestad.

[ Skuespiller Bjørn Skagestad: – Jeg har en sønn som har autisme ]

Society’s glossy images

Lippestad also points to society’s glossy images of success. Holiday pictures in social media, often with pasted harmony.

– There are many people who feel different today. I will be specific in the summer conversation on the Stordahl anniversary. There are many people who fall outside the working life. 100,000 with functional impairments are excluded. Poverty in Norway is increasing. There are more and more lonely elderly people, something society at large only attributes to the “eldrebølgen”, says Geir Lippestad.

– Blind Erling Stordahl was more clear-sighted and far-sighted than most people who can see – because he saw with his mind and heart, the author Jon Gangdal recently told Dagsavisen.

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100 YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF ERLING STORDAHL

Erling Stordahl (1923-1994) started the Knight Race for the blind at Beitostølen in 1964. In 1988, he ran the race together with the then Crown Princess Sonja. (Henrik Laurvik/NTB)

Tuesday 1 August, Quality hotel Sarpsborg: 13:00-17:00 Lectures, talks and lunch. Advance ticket sales. Conversation about Erling Stordahl’s colorful life and pioneering work. What can we learn from him today? Author Jon Gangdal, lawyer Geir Lippestad, director of the Beitostølen health sports center, Astrid Nyquist and head of the Norwegian Handicapped Association Tove Linnea Brandvik. Music by Espen Leite. 17:30 wreath laying at Erling Stordahl’s grave.

28, 29 and 30 July, and 1 August, Storedal cultural center amphitheater: The performance “I once thought I was alone in being different”. Actor Bjørn Skagestad and musician Espen Leite.

Summer exhibitions, Storedal cultural centre: 24 June to 23 July, sales exhibition with caricaturist Christian Bloom. 28 July to 20 August, sales exhibition with visual artist Vibeke Jerkaas.

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– Does the job continue after Erling Stordahl’s pioneering work?

– Society has, of course, changed over the course of 60 years. In Erling Stordahl’s time, he could call Queen Sonja and NRK, invite them to the opening of the Knight Race. They came. Today there are many people fighting for human rights, replies Geir Lippestad, who likes to strike a blow for the theater performance “What is a worthy life? I once thought I was alone in being different.”

– Last year I saw the performance on the outdoor stage of Valdres Folkemuseum. Now it is played in the amphitheater at Storedal cultural center in Skjeberg. A powerful experience, with actor Bjørn Skagestad!

[ Ann-Cathrin kjemper fortsatt for sin alvorlig psykisk funksjonshemmede datter ]

[ Skuespiller Ida Elise Broch: – Er du deg selv så er du annerledes ]

2023-07-28 07:57:29


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