About the MSM Foundation

The Foundation Midnight Sun Marathon (MSM) 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.

Purpose

The purpose of the foundation is to arrange races and similar sporting events, as well as coordinate related 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 travel destination. The foundation will initially be self-financing, but will work to ensure that the event generates the greatest possible financial profit for distribution to sporting and humanitarian purposes.

Contributions are given to teams and associations that volunteer during our events. In addition, the foundation has in recent years given MSM sports scholarships to young northern Norwegian sports talents. We at the foundation Midnight Sun Marathon wants to help spread the joy of running to everyone, regardless of physical shape, age and personal goals.

Our regular annual events are the Polar Night Marathon in January, Sami week in February, Midnight Sun Marathon in June and Tromsø Mountain Challenge in August. 

Polar Night Marathon and Midnight Sun Marathon are street races. Tromsø Mountain Challenge is a weekend of off-road and mountain races. Sami week is a cultural week
in February, which ends with Norwegian Championships in both lasso throwing and reindeer racing.

MSM Sports Scholarship

The Foundation Midnight Sun Marathon awarded the first MSM sports scholarship for young athletes in 2015, and now awards four scholarships annually to young people throughout Northern Norway.

Read more about the MSM scholarship

Contributions to teams and voluntary organizations

Every year we pay contributions to teams and voluntary organizations that provide officials at our events.

Thus, MSM contributes financially to many different sports teams and associations. Annually, MSM contributes around one million kroner to sports and humanitarian purposes. The business community in the region also has major ripple effects from the events. Calculations from Innovation Norway show that our two events, Midnight Sun Marathon and the Polar Night Marathon contributed in 2019 to 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 2025, we have provided support to

• Active against cancer
• The Norwegian Cancer Society
• The Ukrainian Association in Tromsø
• 4 sports scholarships of 25,000 NOK each

Sustainability and environment

We work every day for a better environment and climate, and the foundation Midnight Sun Marathon was certified as an Environmental Lighthouse as early as 2024.

As an approved Environmental Lighthouse, we are taking concrete steps to become even greener in our events. This affects much of what we do in our everyday lives, including increased source separation 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 at MSM