News for Eken Cup 2005!
I called the Sports manager, Magnus Birath to get some information on how the preparations are going for the 30 year jubilee.
- Hell Manke, why are you starting a city tournament in parallel to the grass tournament?!
- I participated myself as a junior in a tournament for the city teams in the Nordic back in the eighties and thought it was a blast. Back then all capitals of the Nordic countries participated but Reykjavik. I thought it was time to bring this tournament back to life and contacted Stockholm's handball federation (Frej Söderlund) and their Elite-committee (Stig Edling). They liked the idea so we set up a group of people to get things started.
- Which cities from which countries are you going to invite?
- Since Eken Cup attracts teams from all countries around the Baltic it has been natural to invite teams not only from the Nordic countries, besides Iceland, but also from Russia, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Poland and Germany.
- When is the tournament to be played?
- The Tournament will be played indoors between June 15-17. The natural thing would have been to play in the Eriksdals- and Enskede stadiums but they will both be closed for repairs so we are looking for alternate arenas.
- Have you got any expectations to how this tournament will effect Eken Cup?
- I'm convinced this will lift Stockholm Eken Cup even more as a tournament. The games of the city tournament will be played in the evenings and will be a good evening entertainment for our participants in Eken Cup.
- How has the response been from the other cities?
- Very positive. Let me get back to you when I know more.
- Okay, Lets leave that subject, What about the City Hall?
- We have asked the city if we could use the City Hall for a banquette. We have been very restrictive in asking to use the cities facilities over the years but since we have a jubilee coming up we thought this would be a good opportunity to do something special. The city has allowed us to invite 300 guests for a lighter meal and a guided tour of the City Hall. This is where the Nobel dinner takes place so it will be something out of the ordinary.
- Where will you find 300 guests to invite?
- That will not be a problem and you should know that half of the 300 guests have to be from outside Sweden. During our 30 years a lot of international contacts have been made so that quota will not be hard to fill.
- I think we have touched some of the activities for the jubilee what else is happening?
- The Gubbäng field is going to get a substantial face lift. That will get your fantasy started I hope.
- You must be able to give me something more?
- Not today, but get back to me in a month.
This is all I get to know before Magnus ends the conversation to continue the preparation for next years event. We will of course continue to closely watch the preparations and give you the news here on the Eken Cup website.
Text: Anders Wallgård
[2004-11-26]
