PRESS RELEASE March 22, 2024

THE ORGANIZER OF THE GOTLAND GRAND NATIONAL NORDIC SPORT & EVENT WILL BE NOTIFIED TODAY, FRIDAY, MARCH 22, AT 2:00 PM BY THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT THAT THE GGN HAS A SIGNIFICANT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT.

Nordic Sport & Event is expected to attend a meeting today with the Gotland County Board, where, after seven months of work, it will be informed that the organizer needs to continue addressing environmental and nature-related issues in order to organize GGN 2.0 in Hejdeby on Gotland.

DECISION ON SIGNIFICANT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT (BMP)
The County Administrative Board has now determined that the Gotland Grand National has a significant environmental impact if the event is to be held in Hejdeby. Moving forward, the organizer will continue its work to investigate how the competition affects the area in the short and long term. The next step will be a public consultation on the project boundaries.

Consultations regarding the delimitation must be held with the County Administrative Board, the supervisory authority, and the individuals who may be presumed to be particularly affected. The consultation regarding the delimitation must also be conducted with other government agencies, municipalities, and others who may be presumed to be affected by the activity.

NORDIC SPORT & EVENT IS LOOKING AHEAD, AND GGN 2.0 HAS GREAT OPPORTUNITIES IN HEJDEBY!
The reason GGN had to change its competition venue is that the Gotland Armed Forces notified the organizer, Nordic Sport & Event, on August 28, 2023, that GGN could no longer be held at the Tofta shooting range after 40 consecutive years.

– This does not come as an immediate surprise to our organization. This is precisely why we have already invested time and resources in the voluntary investigations that have been conducted in the area as a preventive measure. This now means that we have gained a lot of time before continuing our work, says Conny Bohlin, CEO of Nordic Sport & Event.

– We have now made significant progress in our efforts to bring GGN 2.0 to Hejdeby, which means that we will continue to invest time and money in the areas the County Administrative Board has asked us to address based on today’s meeting.

– We expect to invest an additional 1–1.5 million in the track, arena, etc., on top of the approximately 5 million GGN in annual costs for building the infrastructure in the area. The studies have so far cost around SEK 200,000, excluding VAT, and now we have to push for additional funding before the major work can begin, Conny Bohlin adds.

MEASURES THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN TAKEN IN CONNECTION WITH GGN 2.0 IN HEJDEBY.

· Professor and environmental expert Nils Ryrholm was brought on board early on to assist us with the work.

· The consulting firm SWECO was hired to survey the area and design a course based on the known environmental and natural features of the area.

· SWECO has also collected soil samples for preventive purposes in areas where the soil may be contaminated. (awaiting a response)

· Archaeologists from the Gotland Museum have mapped ancient remains in the area and stated that there is no better place than Hejdeby to host GGN.

· 20 landowners in the area have already agreed to the GGN.

· Other property owners near the arena itself have approved GGN's presence in the area and have also agreed to move their horses during the two days of competition.

· We have received a decision from the County Board stating that we may close County Road 147 (Slitevägen) for two days.

“GGN means so much to so many people, and we are doing everything we can to keep the event on Gotland. We must take responsibility for environmental and nature issues, as GGN will continue to be held on the island for many more years; therefore, we understand that these additions are necessary,” concludes Conny Bohlin.

THE PROCESS FOLLOWING A DETERMINATION OF SIGNIFICANT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT.
Section 10 of the Environmental Assessment Ordinance describes what must be taken into account when assessing whether an activity or measure entails a significant environmental impact. According to Section 6, Chapter 3, an authority or municipality that drafts or amends a plan or program required by law or other constitutional provisions must conduct a strategic environmental assessment of the implementation of the plan or program if the implementation of the plan or program can be expected to cause a significant environmental impact.

For further information and questions, contact: (IN A MEETING ON FRIDAY, MARCH 22, AT 2:00 P.M. WITH THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT)
Conny Bohlin
CEO, Nordic Sport & Event
0708 – 249494

FACTS ABOUT THE GOTLAND GRAND NATIONAL
NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS: Over 3,400 from 15 countries
GUEST NIGHTS: 28,000
BUSINESS REVENUE: SEK 100,000,000/year.
LIFE INSURANCE COMPENSATION ASSOCIATION: SEK 800,000/year
SVT SPORT VIEWERS: 800,000 (over 5 hours of live broadcast)