By: Thea Bårdsdatter Foslie
Crown Prince Haakon visited the associations activity and rehabilitation center on November 12, as part of the Norwegian Association of the Blind and Partially Sighted’s 125th anniversary.
The Crown Prince giving the girls a fist bump (photo by Thea Bårdsdatter Foslie)
The Crown Prince toured the center and learned about the various activities and services offered to people with visual impairments.
During activities like carpet curling—curling played on an artificial grass mat—and showdown, a mix of table tennis and air hockey, the Crown Prince surprised everyone with how quickly he mastered the games, even while wearing glasses that simulated reduced vision and glasses that made him completely blind.
“He put on glasses that gave him vision similar to ours, and he actually did really well with them,” said Leah Theresa Sjøberg-Millington (15), one of the girls that met him for a game of carpet curling.
Frida Sofie Fjørner Skjøldt (15) faced the Crown Prince in showdown. This time, both wore glasses that made them play completely blind.
“I think he played surprisingly well, considering it was his first time trying,” said Frida.
The Crown Prince, wearing adapted glasses, trying carpet curling, watched by two girls (photo by Morten Bendiksen).