Norwegian soccer star Erling Haaland, along with his father Alf-Inge Haaland, purchased a rare 1594 manuscript containing Viking sagas for a record 1.3 million Norwegian crowns and donated it to his hometown. The manuscript, a first printed edition of Snorri Sturluson's chronicles translated by Mattis Størssøn, must be permanently displayed and made publicly accessible at the Bryne library in the Time municipality.
This donation is significant as it preserves a key cultural artifact, making foundational Norse literature directly available to the local community, particularly young people. Haaland framed the gift as a way to inspire reading and dreaming by connecting residents to their heritage. The municipality has launched a reading competition tied to the donation, emphasizing its role in promoting literacy and cultural engagement.