Official Opening

Thursday at 1800 marked the official opening of the new Farum Arena. Though games had been played since tuesday and until half past five. But audience was asked to leave the hall and technicians startet to convert court no. 1 to some sort of stage. They laid down a round carpet, looking somewhat like red velvet. On it was placed a speakers chair, a keyboard and a set of drums.

The audience was again allowed to reenter the hall. It only filled to about half capacity - but the mood was quite festive.

Master of ceremony was Poul Eirk Andersson, chief press officer of Farum Municiapality and one of the "grand old men" of danish sportscasters and sports journalism. He welcomed us all to Farum Arena and "the world greatest badminton tournament, Realkredit Danmark Open". He introduced the next speaker, the Mayor of Farum Municipality, Peter Brixtofte, and hailed him as "The Mayor of Sports."

Peter Brixtofte started by explaining, that the reason why this arena was build was to honour all the "thousands" of volunteers, that work in their spare time to ensure that others - not only young peoble - gets got leisure activities. This arena was first and foremost a "Thank You" to all volunteer in all the danish sportsclubs.

He then proceede to honour the danish sports elite, who against all odds, makes Denmark known at the olympics, All England and World Champinships. "It ensures export orders and good will," he said. It is not enough politically to support the local sportsclubs: "In Denmark we have been cheapscates. We have not developed fascilities for our elite." Both the elite and the masses must be supportet - and that was allwo a reason for the Farum community to build this hall.

Before passing the speakers chair unto the chairman of Farum comittee for culture, he gave special thanks to Team Danmark, the elite sport support organisation, that "despite small budgets" had managed to create hope for the support of both elite and masses. In his final words he thanked Farum Badminton Club, Danish Badminton Federation, Realkredit Danmark and other sponsors.

The chairman for the comittee for culture, Hans Carl Nielsen, introduced the new sculpture outside the Arena. It is a large metal bow on end - 13 meter high - "catching the ray of the sun" and at large steel sphere (1,7 meters diameter) at the feet of the bow. The sculpture is created by the swedish artist, Poul Swensson. "A beatiful landmark for spectators and sportsmen from Farum and the whole world", he said.

Then it was time for the official ceremoni - and to perform that, Poul Erik Andersson introduced "the man with the scissors" - director Preben Kragerup, Team Danmark.

Before doing his duties, Preben Kragerup, honoured the Municipality of Farum as a very active community in sports. He describe how he visited Farum only af few months ago, hosted by a very eager mayor, and shown a lot of unfinished buildings - an now everything was finished - A new Arena and Farum Park - a large multi sportsfascility in the western part of the city. [A new elite swimming center for Team Danmark was officially opened a day later, friday, in Farum Park.] He was convinced, that Peter Brixtofte would not let him or Team Danmark in peace before the organisations put more elite fascilities in Farum. He wished all citizens of Farum - and everybody else - good luck and congratulations for the new Farum Arena. Then he cut the special ribbon, that had replaced the net on court number 2, and declared Farum Arena for officially open.

[The Thursday setup was 4 courts and spectator stands on 3 sides.]

Then the band Michael Learns To Rock came onto the red carpet and sang a set of 4 songs: "Angel Eyes", "You Took My Heart Away" and "Watch Your Back" are 3 numbers from the new CD, that is released next week [30. october - 4. november]. The last song, "Sleepy Child" was dedicated to the many from the far east, that participated in this Danish Open.

The ceremony was over - but not the festivities. Now it was time to honour Poul-Erik Høyer for the last time.

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Leif E. Andersen. 
DilleSport 2. Unit

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