You can also go cross-country skiing here, as there are several tracks nearby, some of them floodlit in the evening. There is no charge for cross-country skiing.

Alpinveien 109, Sarpsborg (off the Rv114 between Sarpsborg and Nordby). Tel: 69 14 81 85, www.kjerringaasen.no (Norwegian only).

- Lofoten Islands: Dive in the midnight sun in summer, and with killer whales in winter. The beautiful Lofoten islands are home to Moskenesstraumen, a divers’ Eldorado, where ultra clear waters await. Here you’ll find big kelp forests, overhangs filled with anemones and ocean roses, all kinds of fish (wanna catch your own dinner? Here you can), and immaculate white sandy beaches on which to rest after your dive. www.aqualofoten.com

- Saltstraumen: The world’s strongest maelstrom is one of Europe’s best and most exciting diving sites – National Geographic Magazine recently listed it as one of its top 10 diving destinations in the world! The oxygen-rich water hosts an abundance of fish and a rich variety of aquatic plants, but because of the strong currents this one is for experienced divers only. www.saltstraumendivecenter.com

- The Ytre Hvaler NP, Østfold: The Oslofjord’s popular archipelago is Norway’s first marine national park, opened in September 2009. A great destination for divers of all abilities, boasting unique underwater flora and deep sea corals, as well as some rare fish species not found anywhere else in Norway. www.fsd.no (Norwegian only)

- Ice diving: For something really different why not try ice diving in Arctic Norway, and follow your underwater explorations taking in the beautiful natural spectacle of the Northern lights? A dry suit is a must of course, and a sense of adventure. Available in winter only, in the Barents Sea (where you’ll be able to dive with the famous giant crabs) or on Svalbard. www.xoholidays.com

- Wreck diving: There are many wreck sites all along the Norwegian coast, and Narvik is probably Norway’s wreck diving capital. Tromsø is another good base in Northern Norway, while in the south the area around Kristiansand is home to many well-known wrecks from WW2, the most famous being the freighter MV Seattle. www.divenorway.com, www.kdykk.no

- Lake diving: The best one is Lygnstøylsvatnet, in Western Norway. This lake was created after a landslide blocked off the river Lygna back in 1908, and the local village was subsequently submerged. Now a popular diving destination where you’ll be able to see remnants of the old farm buildings, stone fences, a road, a bridge and the old forest through the pristine water. www.dykkerklubben.com (Norwegian only)

Back in 1998 Footage of that match in Marseille, France, when Norway famously beat Brazil 2-1 after a penalty by Kjetil Rekdal put them in the lead.

- The Norwegian national football team played its first international in 1908. Its home ground is Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo. Norway took part in the FIFA World Cup three times in its history, in 1938, 1994 and 1998. They only played in the European Championship once, in 2000.

- The national team’s hour of glory was their beating Brazil in the 1998 World Cup in Marseille, France, after Kjetil Rekdal fired a decisive penalty into the back of the net. They proceeded to the second round, but lost their first match (against Italy) and went out of the competition.

- There are a total of 1,800 football clubs in Norway (amateur and professional), with over 280,000 players.

- Norwegian players to have achieved a degree of fame abroad include John Arne Riise, a Liverpool player for several years before he moved on to play in Italy, Ole Gunnar Solskjær (known as Manchester United’s ‘baby-faced assassin’) and Tore André Flo, who played for Chelsea, among other clubs.

- The Norwegian Premier League (unofficially known as the Eliteserien) is the top competition in Norway.

- Most successful Norwegian clubs in recent years include Brann (Bergen), who won in 2007; Stabæk (Bærum), who came top in 2008; and Rosenborg (Trondheim) who accumulated an impressive 13 consecutive titles between 1992-2004, and also got gold in 2006 and 2009.

- Women football is big in Norway, with some 110,000 registered members. There are 12 clubs playing in the top division, and 12 in the first division.

- Norway hosts the world’s largest football tournament for children and young people, the Norway Cup, every year in August. The tournament, which dates back to 1972, is hugely popular – in 2009 it attracted some 30,000 participants, with 1,371 teams from 49 countries.

- You can hire canoes and kayaks at Børtevann, east of Sarpsborg, an idyllic, sheltered location ideal for beginners. Canoes are 250Kr for a day (50Kr an hour), kayaks 350Kr for the day (75Kr an hour). Grinerødveien 2, Ise. Tel: 69 16 01 73 or 90 83 33 11, www.kanoutleie.net

- Moss Kajakklubb has canoes and kayaks for hire in Nesparken. You must book in advance as the premises are not manned. They also organise guided tours. From 300Kr a day. Tel: 99 56 12 10, www.moss-kajakklubb.no

- Rømskog Kanoutleie: Rømsjøen is the largest lake in Rømskog, and arguably the prettiest in Østfold. Hire a canoe for the weekend, and explore the area! Canoes are 250Kr for a day (50Kr an hour). Here too you must book in advance. Tel: 95 91 61 75, www.kanoutleie.no

- Aursmark Natur in Kroksund have canoes for hire. From here you are ideally located to paddle on the Halden Canal. They also organise tours. Canoes are 180Kr for the day, 220Kr for 24 hours. They will come and get you if you don’t have your own transport. Kroksund, Ørje. Tel: 69 81 31 47, www.aursmark-natur.com/kano

- Olseng Marina on Ullerøy, Skjeberg, have sea kayaks. Rental is 400Kr a day (150Kr per hour). Ullerøyveien 628. Tel: 69 16 95 95, www.olsengmarina.no