Olaf Wilhelm Petersen

Olaf Wilhelm Petersen (13 December 1841 – 31 July 1909) was a Norwegian military officer and sports official.

Petersen was born in Christiania to Peter Munch Petersen and Elisabeth Faye, and married Karen Faye in 1871. He graduated from the Norwegian Military Academy in 1861, and studied further at the Norwegian Military College and at Centralinstituttet in Stockholm. His assignements included being head of Den norske Garde in Stockholm from 1895 to 1901, and head of the Norwegian Military Academy from 1901 to 1907. He took actively part in the development of the sport of skiing, was a co-founder of Foreningen til Ski-Idrettens Fremme, served as judge at Husebyrennet and Holmenkollen Ski Festival, and chaired Skiforsøkskommisjonen from 1895 to 1900.

From 1885 to 1887 he chaired the sports asscociation Centralforeningen for utbredelse af idræt.

He was decorated Knight, First Class of the Order of St. Olav in 1895, was a Commander of the Order of the Sword, and a Knight of the Order of Wasa. He died in Hvitsten in 1909.