[Aegis]

Before the weekend, Opera's CEO, Jon S. von Tetzchner boldy proclaimed at a company meeting that if download numbers of Opera 8 reached 1 million within four days he would swim from Norway to the USA. Opera's communications department could not resist the temptation, and made his statement public. As any respectable CEO and gentlemen, Mr. Tetzchner stands by his word.

"I want to thank each and every one of the one million plus people who have downloaded Opera 8 over the last days. I am proud to say that this is the most successful browser launch in the ten-year history of Opera. I have received numerous requests over the weekend on whether or not I am going to swim to the USA should we reach one million downloads. Although I blatantly admit that my promise was based more on joy and enthusiasm than my swimming abilities and physical health, I will do my very best to keep it."

- Jon S. von Tetzchner, CEO

Full Story: Opera.com

[totoymola]

The big number of downloads is not a big surprise to me. Of course, they didnt release a new final version for a long time. They just keep releasing beta versions. It's like they're makin the people more excited for the final version (or hungrier). And even non-Opera users (lke me) will download their new version out of curiosity.

[XtremeMaC]

i personally didn't like the final version
they removed the minimize, maximize buttons!! why? why? why????
otherwise i've downloaded all the betas !!

[prathapml]

Turns out that he did not actually swim over.
The entire thing of course was just fun, something which got publicized without the CEO knowing of it....