The County Administrative Board approved GGN
PRESS RELEASE July 19, 2024
THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATIVE BOARD APPROVES GOTLAND GRAND NATIONAL 2.0 IN HEJDEBY.
The world’s largest enduro competition, the Gotland Grand National (GGN), will remain on Gotland in 2024 after the County Administrative Board approved GGN’s application for a new track in the area.
It has been 327 days (11 months) since the Armed Forces decided not to continue the competition after 40 years at the Tofta Shooting Range.
“We have been working with great focus and determination since August 28, 2023, when we received the message from the Armed Forces,” said Conny Bohlin, CEO of Nordic Sport & Event, in a very calm but relieved tone.
After more than 100 meetings, consultations, and rounds of consultation, as well as significant investments of time and money, the organizer of the Gotland Grand National has now received approval from the Gotland County Council.
“We’re all set with our suppliers and forestry contractors who will build the future GGN track in Hejdeby, which will be very special for the participants, the audience, and TV viewers,” Conny Bohlin continues.
In addition to the 5 million invested annually in the event, approximately 2 million will be invested to build the arenas and track in Hejdeby.
– After more than 11 months of work, with both successes and setbacks, it’s incredibly exciting to soon begin the actual work on the future GGN track and arena.
With great respect for nature and the animals in the area, we have now designed a course and arenas that take into account the water protection area, Alvar lands, wetlands, river crayfish, nymphs, Apollo butterflies, and much more of the local flora and fauna.
Together with experts, we will promote biodiversity in the Hejdeby area for many years to come.
“We would now like to begin a long-term collaboration and project with an organization dedicated to environmental issues to conduct an inventory together with them and carry out further, more extensive mapping in the area. In conclusion, we will invest money and time over many years to promote biodiversity in the area around the track in Hejdeby,” says Conny Bohlin.
GOTLAND NEEDS GGN AND GGN NEEDS GOTLAND!
For further information and questions, contact:
Connie Bohlin
President/CEO Nordic Sport & Events
0708 – 249494
FACTS ABOUT THE GOTLAND GRAND NATIONAL
NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS: Over 3,400 from 15 countries (ages 5–75) in 2023.
NUMBER OF CONSECUTIVE YEARS: 40 (The GGN was perhaps the only major event in Europe held during the 2020 pandemic)
GUEST NIGHTS: 28,000 (number of nights GGN generates during the week)
BUSINESS REVENUE: SEK 100,000,000/year (travel, lodging, dining, and shopping)*
COMPENSATION FOR ASSOCIATION LIFE: SEK 800,000/year (the amount that Association Life raises through its collaboration with GGN)
VIEWERS OF SVT SPORT: 600,000 (over 5 hours of live broadcast).
