Introducing The Team Norway Sweater

By Dale of Norway

Introducing The Team Norway Sweater

CORTINA 2026

By Dale of Norway

Since the first Winter Olympics of the Modern Era in 1956 Dale of Norway has been a proud supporter of the Norwegian Team.  They have produced sweaters for the Norwegian Olympic Teams and the Norwegian World Cup Teams every year since then.   For the Tokyo Games in 2020 Dale of Norway provided sweaters for the Norwegian Summer Olympic Team and then for the 2024 Paris Games.  This makes them the oldest and longest running Olympic Outfitter.  This is a tribute to the quality and team approach that has been the hallmark of Dale of Norway’s relationship with the Norwegian Sports Federations. 

The secret for their 70 year success may also come from the old knitting symbols used in the design.  Each one tells a story or brings the wearer good fortune.  The first Olympic Sweater was produced for the Cortina Olympics in 1956.  The sweater has a design at the neck and shoulder. This design featured checkerboard lines and square corners on diamond shapes symbolizing protection, strength and resilience.  This helped propel the small Norwegian Team to begin a heritage of victory in Winter Sports.

The upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics are in Cortina, Italy again.  The 2026 Norwegian Team Sweater was inspired by the 1956 design. The new bold contemporary pattern with a relaxed fit will be worn by the Norwegian Team.  One can look closely at the pattern and find checkerboard diamond shapes with square corners and zigzag lines in the pattern.  These are old knitting symbols for protection, strength and resilience.

The Sweater features 1/4 zip at the neck.  The zipper pull has the Norwegian colors of red, white and blue on the front, the back features Italian flag colors of red, white and green.  Details include the Norwegian Team patch on the right sleeve. It is finished off with a signature Dale of Norway logo on the left.  To provide a new level of comfort for the athletes they integrated an inner lining of skin soft merino wool with an outer shell of sport weight Norwegian wool for strength and durability. The combination gives soft comfort with great durability and warmth. 

CORTINA 2026 is available in red with white or navy blue with white, Men’s sizes: Small to XXLarge and Women’s: Small to XLarge.  Coordinating scarves and headbands are also available. 

 Louise Hanson

(Louise is co owner of The Nordic Shop

and also on the board of Trustees; Vesterheim, Norwegian American Museum.)