The poll conducted by the newspaper Dagbladet claims 53 percent of respondents would support Norway hosting the Olympics if costs were kept down, with 40 per cent against. 

This means that one in three of the Norwegian public has turned from a "no" to a "yes", Dagbadet claimed.

When asked originally by the newspaper whether Norway should host the 2022 Winter Olympics, 64 per cent were against with 29 per supporting it.

But when the same group were asked if they would support the idea of Norway hosting the Olympics if costs were reduced and facilities built for the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer utilised, then the majority backed it. 

The front page of Norwegian newspaper Dagbadet heralds the fact one in three of those polled have changed their mind over whether to support an Oslo 2022 bid ©Twitter

Earlier this month Oslo 2022 revealed that existing venues outside the capital could be used if they are awarded the Games. 

This includes biathlon potentially being moved to Lillehammer, while ski jumping could now take place in Vikersund 86.5 kilometres to the west of Oslo, and figure skating in Drammen, 40km to the south-west.

"These figures suggest that we were correct to suggest the amendments," said Stian Berger Røsland, the Governing Mayor of Oslo and head of the bid, following publication of the poll. 

"But I know that polls go up and down.

"What is clear is that there has been - and still is - scepticism, but this poll might indicate that something has changed.

"Time will show how much and how strongly.

"I think that for a Norwegian Olympics and for the legacy of the Games, it is the original concept that is better.

"But now it is up to the Government and Parliament to decide on this.

"If they decide that we should make the cuts and hold some events elsewhere, then we will show that it is possible and realistic."

The new poll is nevertheless a big boost ahead of a key meeting in the Norwegian Parliament tomorrow when there will be a debate about whether the Government should back the bid and provide the financial guarantees demanded by the International Olympic Committee as part of its Host City contract. 

It is expected that the guarantee would be as high as NOK 35.1 billion (£3.4 billion/$5.5 billion/€4.3 billion) while NOK 100 million (£9.5 million/$15.5 million/€12 million) is budgeted for the bid campaign. 

Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg is seeking cross-party support to back a bid from Oslo for the Olympics and Paralympics ©Getty Images

Despite the new poll, there remains widespread opposition to Oslo hosting the Olympics and Paralympics. 

Yesterday Prime Minister Erna Solberg suffered another blow when all the chapters in Northern Norway of the ruling Conservatives voted to oppose an Olympic bid. 

Party leaders in the counties of Finnmark, Troms and Nordland all voiced their opposition, including the Mayor of Tromsø, Jens Johan Hjort, one of Solberg's biggest supporters who had been behind the bid until now. 

The Progress Party, the Conservatives' coalition partner, has also publicly come out against the bid, as have the Christian Democrats, another one of their supporters. 

It means that for Solberg to gain the support she requires to back the bid she may need to rely on the support of the opposition Labour Party. 

More follows

Contact the writer of this story at duncan.mackay@insidethegames. 


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