1997 in Norway

Events in the year 1997 in Norway.

Incumbents

Monarch – Harald V
Prime Minister – Thorbjørn Jagland until October 17, Kjell Magne Bondevik

Events

18 January – The Norwegian explorer Børge Ousland became the first to complete an unassisted Antarctic solo crossing.
4 June – Great Nordic Biker War: a car bomb destroyed the Bandidos motorcycle gang's Norwegian chapter headquarters in Drammen, killing Irene Astrid Bekkevold, who was passing by in her car when the bomb went off. The explosion caused widespread material damage in the area, including to the Drammens Is ice cream factory. The bombing had been planned by the Norwegian chapter of the rival Hells Angels motorcycle gang, seven members of which were eventually convicted and sentenced to prison terms from 5 to 16 years.
15 September – The 1997 Parliamentary election takes place. While Labour won a plurality of seats, they were unable to reach Jagland's 36,9% threshold, gaining 35% of the vote. As a result of this, the Labour government stepped down, being replaced by a centrist coalition of the Christian People's Party, Liberal Party and the Centre Party, with Kjell Magne Bondevik being appointed Prime Minister.
17 October – Bondevik's First Cabinet was appointed.
22 December – Værøy Municipality is struck by a 3.3 magnitude earthquake.

Popular culture

Sports

29 June to 12 July – the UEFA Women's Euro 1997 was held in several cities.
11 to 16 August – the 1997 World Orienteering Championships were held in Grimstad.

Literature

Awards

Sophie Prize - In 1997, Norwegian author Jostein Gaarder, renowned for his novel "Sophie's World," and his wife Siri Dannevig established the Sophie Prize. This international award, administered by the Oslo-based Sophie Foundation, aimed to inspire individuals and organizations working towards a sustainable future by recognizing outstanding efforts in environmental and sustainable development. The prize awarded recipients $100,000 annually.

Novels

Jo Nesbø – ''Flaggermusmannen''

Anniversaries

1000 years since Trondheim was founded by Olav Tryggvason
350 years since the foundation of Posten Norge

Notable births

9 January – Jacob Karlstrom, footballer
17 January – Andreas Hanche-Olsen, footballer
28 January – Mons Røisland, snowboarder
30 January – Mathias Bringaker, footballer
31 January – Helene Gigstad Fauske, handball player
3 February – Thomas Bucher-Johannessen, cross-country skier
4 February – Henrik Bjørdal, footballer
7 February – Per Magnus Steiring, footballer
8 February – Audun Heimdal, orienteering and ski orienteering competitor.
15 February – Marie Dølvik Markussen, footballer
1 March – Johannes Johannesen, ice hockey player
3 March – Iman Meskini, actress
6 March – Alisha Boe, actress
7 March – Thomas Hayes, actor
19 March – Viktor Durasovic, tennis player
17 April – Martin Samuelsen, footballer
6 May – Simen Brekkhus, footballer
7 May – Johan Salomon, chess player
10 May – Julian Kristoffersen, footballer
12 May – Amund Wichne, footballer
24 May – Magnus Fredriksen, handball player.
25 May – Tobias Foss, cyclist
11 June – Julian Veen Uldal, footballer
18 June – Morten Sætra, footballer
30 June – Mathias Gjerstrøm, footballer
2 July – Anders Mol, beach volleyball player
7 July – Magnus Abelvik Rød, handball player
15 July – Markus André Kaasa, footballer
17 July – Sigurd Hauso Haugen, footballer
17 July – Magnus Ramsfjell, curler
24 July – Jostein Ekeland, footballer
28 July – Sivert Solli, footballer
2 August – Håkon Lorentzen, footballer
3 August – Adrian Lillebekk Ovlien, footballer.
4 August – Tuva Hansen, footballer
6 August – Sander Svendsen, footballer
24 August – Alan Walker, music producer
27 August – Eirik Haugan, footballer
30 August Tobias Lauritsen, footballer
3 September – Sulayman Bojang, footballer
11 September – Erlend Dahl Reitan, footballer
18 September – Viktor Hovland, golf player
6 October – Lene Cecilia Sparrok, actress
15 October – Jarl Magnus Riiber, Nordic combined skier
28 October – Edvard Linnebo Race, footballer
28 October – Marcus Mehnert, footballer
17 November – Julian Ryerson, footballer
24 November – Patrick Berg, footballer
25 November – Mathias Rasmussen, footballer
14 December – Beatrice Nedberge Llano, athlete specialising in the hammer throw
31 December – Kjerstin Boge Solås, handball player

Notable deaths

3 January – Jon Lennart Mjøen, actor, film director and screenwriter.
3 January – Erling Mossige, jurist and banker
4 January – Tormod Skagestad, poet, novelist, playwright, actor and theatre director.
10 January – Tordis Maurstad, actress.
14 January – Ebba Lodden, politician.
14 January – Henny Mürer, choreographer and dancer.
18 January – Henry Hermansen, cross-country skier
25 January – Lars Brandstrup, gallerist.
25 January – Gunnar Nygaard, broadcasting pioneer.
27 January – Berte Rognerud, politician.
3 February – Richard Andvord, businessman and resistance member
9 February – Thorleif Dahl, jurist and civil servant
10 February – Harriet Andreassen, labour activist, politician and Minister.
10 February – Olaf Strand, middle-distance runner
15 February – Frode Rinnan, architect and politician.
17 February – Lorentz Nitter, physician.
3 March – Erik Waaler, professor of medicine.
9 March – Ingvard Sverdrup, politician
15 March – Kåre Holt, author.
16 March – Paal Frisvold, general
17 March – Harald Gustav Nilsen, illustrator.
19 March – Johannes Bråten, politician
21 March – Liv Andersen, politician
21 March – Elna Kimmestad, actress
27 March – Birger Hatlebakk, industrialist and politician
28 March – Arthur Arntzen, politician
3 April – John Ugelstad, chemical engineer and inventor
12 April – Gunnar Ellefsen, politician
13 April – Bjørn Bue, Lutheran missionary and bishop
17 April – Folke Hauger Johannessen, admiral of the Royal Norwegian Navy
26 April – Eigil Helland-Hansen, travel agent
5 May – Leif Longum, essayist and literary scholar
8 May – Clara Ottesen, economist, politician and feminist
22 May – Nina Eik-Nes, politician
31 May – Sven Hauge, military officer
5 June – Thor With, bishop
6 June – Thorleif Kristensen, politician
13 June – Johan Richter, engineer, industrialist and inventor
22 June – Lars Bergendahl, cross country skier and triple World Champion
23 June – Jenny Søyseth, politician
1 July – Torvald Kvinlaug, politician
16 July – Johan A. Vikan, politician
20 July – Alf Engen, skier and skiing school owner/teacher in America
26 July – Gunnvor Advocaat, painter
2 August – Harald Kihle, painter and illustrator.
6 August – Olav Grove, County Governor.
16 August – Alf Malland, actor
24 August – Randi Monsen, illustrator.
30 August – Søren H. H. Larsen, physicist
1 September – Reidar Olsen, footballer
10 September – Einar Jørum, footballer
12 September – Haaken Severin Mathiesen, landowner
14 September – Ernst Fredrik Eckhoff, judge
16 September – Liv Stubberud, politician
17 September – Jan P. Syse, lawyer and politician
6 October – Gunnar Odd Hagen, politician
14 October – John Qvale, police chief and judge
20 October – Thormod Næs, sport shooter
4 November – Erik Poppe, professor of medicine, specialist in oncology
6 November – Anne Stine Ingstad, archaeologist
11 November – Shake Keane, jazz musician and poet
16 November – Wilhelm Hayden, competition rower
18 November – Fredrik Horn, footballer
19 November – Kjell Schou-Andreassen, footballer
20 November – Asbjørn Aavik, missionary
22 November – Willy Evensen, rower
23 November – Oddvar Vargset, wrestler
23 November – Karl Valdemar Westerlund, politician
30 November – Alfred Næss, playwright and songwriter
1 December – Eldrid Erdal, politician
5 December – Jan Voigt, actor, dancer and museum director
15 December – Karsten Andersen, conductor
18 December – Harriet Holter, social psychologist
19 December – Alf Nordhus, barrister
28 December – Roald Dysthe, businessperson

Full date missing

Trygve Bjørgo, educator and poet
Per Brunsvig, barrister
Gotfred Kvifte, physicist
Åse Hiorth Lervik, literary researcher
Bjarne Slapgard, educator and author
Jakob Sverdrup, historian
Alf Tveten, sailor and Olympic silver medallist