Link to film: https://vimeo.com/372324297
Lions Camp Bitostølen is an international youth camp in the mountains for persons 18-25 years with a physical or visual impairment.
Welcome to Beitostølen and the RidderWeek, March 30. to april 6. 2025.
This youth camp is arranged by Lions Norway in cooperation with Foreningen Ridderrennet. We invite disabled youngsters from all over the world to take part in the Ridderweek. The Riddeweek is the worlds’ largest annual winter sports week for people with visual or physical impairments. It takes place at Beitostoelen, Norway in March/April every year.
Lions Clubs in Norway are important sponsors for this event, and many members make a big difference as volunteers every year.
Ridderrennet (the cross country skiing competition) was founded by the Norwegian blind skier and visionary (and a member of Lions Club Valdres), Erling Stordahl. This competition has been organized every year since 1964. Today, a total of 400-500 participant with different types of impairments take part - beginners as well as experienced skiers, young and old, and they come from all parts of the world.
The motto of the Ridderweek is to “Make the impossible possible”. You can try out, learn, and compete in various winter sports such as cross-country skiing, biathlon, alpine skiing and snowboarding. Besides ski activities, you can try other sports such as kiting, yoga, self-defense etc. The week finishes with the famous traditional cross-country ski race; the Ridderrennet.
Social activities
During the Ridderweek there are various social activities such as get-together meetings, stand-up comedy, quiz night, talent show, concerts etc
Who can participate?
- Physically disabled only (not mentally), between 18-25 years.
- Youth who are willing to take part and enjoy physical activity.
- Participants must be able to communicate in English.
Responsibility for the application
A local Lions club or other organization must take responsibilty for the participants application and to send it before the deadline.
Ask for the application form by sending an e-mail til mdyc@lions.no.
Application deadline is February 1. 2025
Any questions? Contact Stefan Trygve Soos: mdyc@lions.no
Costs
Lions Norway will pay all the expenses regarding the stay for the participant at the camp in Norway. We do not cover expenses for a personal assistant. All participants at the RidderWeek event are appointed a guide at arrival. We are not responsible for the travel costs to and from the location.
No camp fee.
Facilities
Beitostoelen is known for its outstanding skiing facilities. You practice and compete in biathlon and cross-country skiing in the adapted ski tracks at the Beitostoelen Health Sport Center. The tracks are easily reached by a short ride with our free shuttle service. The downhill and snowboard training and competitions are in the “Ola lift”, right in the centre of Beitostoelen and close to the hotel Radisson Blu.
Programme
Link to the programme for the RidderWeek 2025
Guide services
Every participant, if they wish, can have a guide, free of charge. Together, the skier and guide take part in the various ski activities of their choice all week. Our guides are students from different sports colleges in Norway. The assignment and training of guides is governed by the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences. The guides will assist you in training and competitions.
If additional assistance is needed beyond the training and competitions, the participants need to bring their own assistant at their own expense.
Transport
We have a pickup service that will take you from/to Bergen, Oslo or Oslo/Gardermoen airport. The transport is set up both on the arrival day and the departure day.
Links
Download brochure about this camp (click the attachmenet at the bottom of this article)
Homepage for Ridderrennet and RidderWeek
Lions Camp Knights of the Light is part of the Lions Clubs International Youth Camp and Exchange Program.