Øverbø - the home of Sondre

The history of Sondre Norheim begins in Morgedal, Telemark.

Friday February 15. 1952 the Winter Olympic Flame was lit in Oslo. Two days before, the pinewood torch was lit in Sondre Norheims cottage, Øverbø, in Morgedal.

The ceremony takes place on February 13, 1952. From the fireplace inside the Sondre cottage, the pinewood torch is lit by Olav Bjaaland, a ski veteran who also participated in the Roald Amundsen South Pole Expedition. The Winter Olympic Flame for Squaw Valley 1960 and Lillehammer OL in 1994 was lit with a torch from Øverbø and Morgedal.

Read more about the story about Sondre Norheim and the first Winter Olympic Flame at www.morgedal.com

Read more about the trip here.