Around 20 000 spectators found their way to the old olympic hill at Lillehammer

It had been a great and sunny day in Norway. As dawn set in and the temperature dropped to below -20 degrees centigrade, peolpe came streaming up from the city to see the best ski jumpers in the world.
Spirits were high and the constant cheers from the crowd drove the jumper further and further down the hill.

Among the 20 000 we found three norwegian friends with thier families. They are all from different places in Norway, Lillehammer, Molde and Furnes.

- Every year we meet up and travel to the ski world championship. This is the thrid year in row we are here at the Lillehammer ski jumping festival, explains Inger Fjerdhjem Robsahm.

- It is great to be here and see the ski jumpers. It is also fantastic to see that so many people have come to support the athletes, says Unni Gomstad Nøss.

After a great first round, the entusiastic girls have their ideas about the second round.

- We are pleased with the competition so far, although we would have liked to see Romøren higher up. We think either Ljøkelsøy or Morgenstern will win, tells Magnhild Halvorsen.

And her predictions were not bad at all. Roar Ljøkelsøy ended at fourth place. Romøren jumped himself up from seventh to second place. And Thomas Morgenstern won.