From Norwegian media:
Asia is a popular Scandinavian vacation destination and thousands of Norwegian and Swedish vacationers are missing and feared dead in the Tsunami catastrophe in Asia. Every county in Norway has reported missing people. At this point there are 21 confirmed dead, 462 missing and 1442 unaccounted for Norwegians. The Swedish Prime minister Goran Persson said in a statement on Thursday that 3500 Swedes are missing and more than 1000 feared dead. The numbers could be higher.
By Langrenn.com:
Ski races are an important source of income for normally empty Norwegian ski club accounts. Most clubs are now giving the income from races to Tsunami victims.
The Strindheim relay in Trondheim was held New Years Eve and the entire profit from the race was donated to victims of the catastrophe in Southeast Asia. The organizers said that their contribution would be at least 10,000 Nok (US $1400).
Mjondalen Ski Club in Drammen organized a time trial and the start fee of $5 from the 76 skiers that showed up on short notice was donated to the Tsunami relief fund. Many actually paid a lot more than the start fee knowing it would go to the relief fund and the organizers raised 4000 Nok (US $600) and challenged other clubs to do the same.
