The Progress Party, a conservative-liberal group on the right of the political spectrum, are currently only the third largest in the Norwegian Parliament behind the Labour and Conservative Parties.

But since October 2013 they have also been the junior partner in a governing coalition with the Conservatives, thus giving them vital importance in Government decisions such as whether to endorse the 2022 bid.

Although the views of party leader Siv Jensen, also the Norwegian Finance Minister, remain unclear, there is a gathering wave of opposition within the party and it is thought the Congress will be used to force the leadership to oppose the bid. 

This was something implied by leading party member Frank Willy Djuvik when he told NRK that he was "pretty sure that the Progress Party Congress will agree that this is a misuse of public funds, and that the majority will support the resolution that Progress will oppose the Olympics".

Support for Oslo 2022 is particularly low outside of the capital city, while the popularity of winter sport among young people is also declining, it is claimed ©Getty Images



In what is considered the major stumbling block to a application which went ahead after a referendum over whether to bid was narrowly passed in Oslo last September, the Norwegian Government are yet to officially endorse the bid amid doubts over public support beyond the capital city.

The Progress Party could put pressure on their Conservative cabinet colleagues, including Prime Minister Erna Solberg, to decide against doing so.

This would certainly lead to Oslo's withdrawal, as it did to Stockholm's 2022 bid in January when the Swedish Government refused their support.