The County Administrative Board approved GGN
PRESS RELEASE 07/19/2024
THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATIVE BOARD SAYS YES TO GOTLAND GRAND NATIONAL 2.0 IN HEJDEBY.
The world’s largest enduro competition, Gotland Grand National (GGN), will remain on Gotland in 2024 after the County Administrative Board approved GGN’s application with 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 worked very focused and goal-oriented since August 28, 2023, when the message from the Armed Forces came to us. It said a very calm but relieved Conny Bohlin, CEO of Nordic Sport & Event.
After over 100 meetings, consultations, and consultation rounds and significant investments of time and money, the organizer of the Gotland Grand National has now received a yes from the County Board of Gotland.
– We are ready with our suppliers and forest contractors who will build the future GGN track in Hejdeby, which will be very special for participants, the audience, and the TV viewers, Conny Bohlin continues.
In addition to the 5 million invested annually in the event, around 2 million will be invested to build the arenas and track in Hejdeby.
– After over 11 months of work, with successes and setbacks, it feels extremely exciting to soon start the real work on the future GGN track and arena.
With great respect for nature and animals in the area, we now have a planned course and arenas that take into account the water protection area, Alvar lands, wetlands, river crayfish, nymphs, Apollo butterflies, and much more of the plant and animal life in the area.
Together with experts, we will create biological diversity in the Hejdeby area for many years.
– We would now like to start a long-term collaboration and project with a committed association in environmental matters to take inventory together with them and do further extended mapping in the area. In conclusion, we will invest money and time for many years to create biological diversity 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 GOTLAND GRAND NATIONAL
NUMBER OF STARTERS: Over 3,400 from 15 nations (participants aged 5 – 75) in 2023.
NUMBER OF YEARS IN A ROW: 40 (GGN was perhaps the only major event in Europe held during the pandemic in 2020)
GUEST NIGHTS: 28,000 (number of nights GGN generates during the week)
BUSINESS REVENUE: SEK 100,000,000/year (travel, accommodation, eating, and shopping)*
COMPENSATION ASSOCIATION LIFE: SEK 800,000/year (the sum that the association life works together thanks to GGN)
VIEWERS SVT SPORT: 600,000 (over 5 hours live broadcast).
