Through our co-operation agreement with the Norwegian Volleyball Federation, we want to help create even more genuine sporting joy in Norway.
- Volleyball could well be the sport that creates that joy. This year, world champions Christian Mol and Anders Sørum will compete for medals at the World Championships in Hamburg, and next year it could be precious metal at the Olympics in Tokyo. We look forward to following their development," says Sveinung Byberg, CEO of Kraft Finans.
Kraft Fondene and Kraft Bank have jointly entered into the agreement with the Norwegian Volleyball Federation. The agreement has a duration of two years and thus extends up to and including the 2020 Olympic season. In addition, the agreement includes an option for a further year.
- "We are very pleased to have entered into a partnership with the Norwegian Volleyball Federation. This is an agreement that I think both parties will benefit from," says Byberg.
The Norwegian Volleyball Federation is very pleased with the agreement they have entered into with Kraft Fondene and Kraft Bank.
- "I'm very pleased that volleyball is teaming up with Kraft Fondene and Kraft Bank. As the main sponsor of Mol/Sørum, they are taking genuine ownership of Norway's ambition to be at the top of the world rankings in the coming years. This is a partnership that we believe will excite many people," says Iver Horrem, Marketing Manager at the Norwegian Volleyball Federation.
The worlds
The agreement makes Kraft Fondene and Kraft Bank one of the main sponsors of Anders Mol and Christian Sørum. Last year, the two sand volleyball players put Norway back on the international volleyball map. It all started when the duo won the master tournament in Gstaad in mid-July, but it didn't stop with that victory and before the season was over they managed to win four more tournaments, including the European Championships and the World Series final.
Today, the couple is ranked number one in the world and among the favourites to compete for gold at the World Championships in Hamburg 2019 and the Olympics in Tokyo next year.
- "The World Cup is our big goal this season. "If we make it to the semi-finals and win medals, we'll be very happy, but of course we're playing for gold. We're very pleased that Kraft Fondene and Kraft Bank have become sponsors. This means that we can finally have a full-time coach. It also means that we can organise the training camps we need. All of this is important if we are to continue to develop and take new steps," say the two world champions.
Medal favourite in the World Cup
The last time Norway had a world-class pair was over 20 years ago. That time, Bjørn Maaseide and Jan Kvalheim topped the world rankings. The duo became world champions by winning the world series in 1995 and also won the European Championship in 1994. Maaseide is currently the largest owner and board member of Kraft Finans and Kraft Bank. The former company operates Kraft Fondene.
In July, Mol and Sørum can once again follow in the footsteps of Maaseide/Kvalheim and become world champions when the World Championships are organised in Hamburg.
We look forward to the continuation and are keeping our fingers crossed for world champions Mol and Sørum!
