Competed in the Lacrosse European Qualifiers

Norwegian lacrosse national team player and Solution Consultant, Anita Øygard, recently returned from the European Qualifiers in Portugal. Photo: Kristian Risanger“Yes, people have seen it in the movies,” says lacrosse player Anita Øygard, who by day works as a Solution Consultant at Omega 365 Core.

She discovered the sport while studying and now plays for both a club in Oslo and the Norwegian national team in lacrosse – a relatively new sport in Norway. After returning from the Lacrosse European Qualifiers in Portugal with the Norwegian national team, Øygard has her sights set on future championships.

“Lacrosse is hugely popular in the US and is Canada’s national summer sport. It’s a centuries-old game that originated with the Indigenous peoples of North America,” Øygard explains.

A new sport in Norway

Anita Øygard, player number 3 in the Norwegian lacrosse national team, in action in Portugal. Photo: Private

Lacrosse arrived in Norway in the early 2000s. Today, around 1,000 players are active across 16 clubs in the Norwegian American Athletic Federation (NAIF). Most clubs are connected to universities and colleges, but independent teams also exist. Øygard herself discovered the sport through student athletics. While studying in Kristiansand, she signed up for a trial session—and was immediately hooked.  

She now plays for Saints Lacrosse in Oslo in addition to the national team. She's even happy to make the long commute across the country to keep training. 

“There’s a unique player community in lacrosse, because most people pick it up as adults. We’re learning and improving together, and everyone is incredibly motivated. The learning curve is steep,” she says. 

The Norwegian national lacrosse team deliberates during the European Championship qualifiers. There are around 1,000 active players in Norway. Photo: Private

Ready for a rematch

The qualifiers in Portugal marked Øygard’s first international championship. While she wasn’t satisfied with Norway’s ninth-place finish, she’s already looking forward to the next opportunity. 

“It was tough, but overall, a valuable experience. We’re aiming for a stronger result in the next championship,” she says. 

She’s also looking further ahead: lacrosse will debut as an Olympic sport in 2028, and Øygard is eager to take part in the qualifiers. Øygard dreams of competing in the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. 

“We played the Olympic format during the European Qualifiers. Maybe I’ll be the first person from Vindafjord to go to the Olympics?” she says, referring to the municipality where Ølensvåg, Omega 365's headquarters, is located.

Whatever the future holds, Øygard remains deeply involved in the sport. In addition to playing, she has taken on roles as coach, team manager, board member, and event organizer for the national lacrosse league. 

“It’s exciting,” she says. 

“You get to work with a wide variety of people, and you quickly see the impact of your contributions.”