Gold medal winners (from left to right) Sturla Holm Laegreid, Tarjei Boe, Johannes Thingnes Boe and Vetle Sjaastad Christiansen of Norway celebrate during the men's biathlon 4x7.5-kilometer relay medal ceremony at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Feb 16, 2022, in Zhangjiakou, China. (MATTHIAS SCHRADER / AP)

ZHANGJIAKOU, China - Norway could set a record for the total number of gold medals won by a country at a single Winter Olympics in Beijing but for chef de mission Tore Oevreboe enjoying themselves and creating good relationships is more important than winning.

With Norway's chances of claiming more gold in the remaining biathlon and cross-country races looking good, the record is within reach but chef de mission Tore Oevreboe and the Norwegians measure success in different terms

With Norway's chances of claiming more gold in the remaining biathlon and cross-country races looking good before the Games close on Sunday, the record is within reach but Oevreboe and the Norwegians measure success in different terms.

"The main objective for us is to make the athletes have fun all the way through the Games," he said as Norway won the men's cross-country team sprint for a 13th Beijing gold, one medal shy of the record jointly held with Canada and Germany. 

The Norwegians put their winter sports success in recent years down to a three-pronged approach.

"One of them is to have a very high quality of daily training, which is the main thing to do to achieve development over time, and we are also very specific in the work with the competitions, preparations and execution," he told Reuters.

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"But there is a third area that we are very, very eager at working with - it's to establish and develop good and safe relationships between the athletes themselves and also between the athletes and their coaches and the staff around.

"We are very occupied with creating a good environment, a stable environment, a safe environment, an environment full of fun, so they can really enjoy life when they are doing sport at a high level," Oevreboe added.

Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo, of Norway, competes during the men's team sprint classic cross-country skiing competition at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Feb 16, 2022, in Zhangjiakou, China. (AARON FAVILA / AP)

Creating those conditions for success begins long before the likes of Olympic champions Johannes Klaebo and Marte Olsbu Roieseland get to the elite level.

"This is part of the Norwegian sports model, all the way from the start from childhood - it should be physical activity based on fun, many types of activities, variety, different sports," the 56-year-old former Olympic rower said.

"Lots of small competitions, but we do not track the results of the athletes."

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Oevreboe prefers an approach whereby youngsters can try as many sports as possible before specializing at a later age, rather than hand-picking talented children for specific events.

He believes the aim should be not just producing great champions but also good Norwegians at every level of society.

"Many of the kids have good opportunities to realize their potential in a variety of fields, and sport is one of them ... and then they will develop their potential as humans and citizens," he said.