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About us
About the MSM Foundation
The Midnight Sun Marathon (MSM) foundation was established in 1989 and organized the first Midnight Sun Marathon in 1990. MSM has since developed into an organization that markets and arranges various sports and cultural events in Tromsø. The purpose of MSM is also to contribute financially to sports and charitable causes.
The purpose of the foundation is to organize races and similar sports events, as well as coordinate associated events with broad local, national and international participation under the brand name MSM. The foundation will also seek to market Midnight Sun Marathon and other events in such a way that the event, Tromsø and the region become an attractive destination. The Foundation shall initially be self-financing, but shall work to ensure that the event generates the greatest possible financial surplus for distribution to sports and humanitarian purposes.
Grants are awarded to teams and associations that volunteer at our events. In addition, the foundation has in recent years given MSM sports scholarships to young North Norwegian sports talents. We at the foundation Midnight Sun Marathon want to help spread the joy of running to everyone, regardless of physical fitness, age and personal goals.
Our regular annual events are PolarNight Marathon in January, Sami week in February, Arctic Snowshoe Race in March, Midnight Sun Marathon in June and Tromsø Mountain Challenge in August. PolarNight Marathon and Midnight Sun Marathon are street races. Tromsø Mountain Challenge is a weekend of cross-country and downhill races. Arctic Snowshoe Race is a snowshoe race. Sami week is a cultural week in February with a national championship in lasso throwing and reindeer sledding on the weekend.
MSM Sports Scholarship
The foundation Midnight Sun Marathon awarded the first MSM sports scholarship for young athletes in 2015, and has since awarded a total of 26 sports scholarships.
In 2023, we awarded a total of NOK 125,000 in five sports scholarships of NOK 25,000 each to talented young athletes from Northern Norway who have excelled in their respective sports. The scholarship is awarded to younger athletes in the establishment phase and who are at the top of their sporting discipline. The athlete must be able to demonstrate regional and/or national rankings in their sport. Candidates are nominated by the public, their team and their circuit. A jury selects those who are awarded a scholarship from among the nominees. Whether MSM awards scholarships depends on the finances of the foundation.
We give back to sport
Every year, we pay contributions to teams and voluntary organizations that provide officials for our events. In this way, MSM contributes financially to many different sports teams and associations. Each year, MSM contributes around NOK 1 million to sporting and humanitarian causes. The business community in the region also benefits greatly from the events. Calculations from Innovation Norway show that our two events, PolarNight Marathon and Midnight Sun Marathon , contributed in 2019 to an increased value creation in the region of NOK 55.7 million.
Our skilled and welcoming officials help to create good and positive experiences for participants. Many of the visitors greatly appreciate the contact with the officials. Every year, thousands of people make the trip to Tromsø to take part in our events. For many, this is their first encounter with the Arctic and Northern Norway.
In 2023, we have provided support to
Active against cancer
The Norwegian Cancer Society
The Ukrainian Association in Tromsø
4 Sports scholarships of NOK 25,000 each
Sustainability and environment
We work every day to improve the environment and climate, and the Midnight Sun Marathon foundation is now working towards certification as an eco-lighthouse.
As an approved Eco-Lighthouse, we will take steps to become even greener in our events. This will affect much of what we do on a day-to-day basis, including increased source sorting and a focus on more sustainable products. We are more aware of the areas in which we can contribute.
Climate accounting
We continue to prioritize a conscious approach to sustainable procurement. We will prioritize cooperation with environmentally certified companies and purchase eco-labeled and organic products to the extent that it is financially justifiable.
Employees
Nils I. Hætta
Nils is our general manager who has worked for MSM since 1996. He is from Kautokeino in Finnmark, speaks Sami, Norwegian and English. He has been above average active all his life and enjoys running, snowshoeing and ice fishing. He has an incredible amount of experience from sports events and was involved in the 1994 Lillehammer Olympics. He has recently established Tromsø Trugeklubb and still participates in races and snowshoeing.
Innika De Rosa
Innika is the youngest and most exuberant employee in the office, and is passionate about running. She comes from Australia, but is happy to call Tromsø her home. She is responsible for events, as well as being in contact with participants, sponsors and partners. When she's not in the office, she's most likely training, cooking or hanging out with friends.
Janne Aune
Janne is the newest member of the MSM team. She works with strategy, sustainability, development and projects. Including the creation of a new outdoor fair to be held during the Tromsø Mountain Challenge weekend. She wants to create events that are for everyone. Janne grew up in Tromsdalen and loves being out in nature. She is caring and creates a good working environment with her positive nature. She also likes to put on her running shoes every now and then.