Countdown: Copenhagen is ready for Europe in 200 days
By: Anna Marie Birkbak
Olympic medallist Rikke Moeller Pedersen looks forward to competing on home ground at this year’s European Short Course Championships in the Danish capitol.
In just 200 days, the brand new Royal Arena in Copenhagen will be the stage of the top elite of European swimming competing for medals and honour every night. And for the Danish swimmers this is an opportunity not to be missed:
- You rarely get to experience that sort of stadium feel, when you’ve chosen swimming as your sport. But his year, a home ground championship will definitely contribute to a formidable Danish, even Nordic, experience, says Rikke Moeller Pedersen, Danish breaststroker and Olympic 4x100m medley relay bronze medallist in Rio.
Rikke Moeller Pedersen and the Danish Olympic delegation. Photo: Lars Moeller.
Overwhelming
Rikke Moeller Pedersen is thrilled to have the European Short Course Championships coming to Denmark for the second time. Four years ago, BOXEN in Herning staged the event, and the 200m breaststroke world record holder clearly remembers the intimate and intense feeling when swimming in front of a Danish crowd.
- Herning was so overwhelming for me and my Danish teammates. I got to have my friends and family there cheering for me, so I am really crossing my fingers for that powerful and wonderful sensation in Royal Arena this December, says Rikke Moeller Pedersen.
A national event
This year, the team representing Denmark 13-17 December in Copenhagen will be as big as ever. Lots of new talents are waiting for a chance to prove their worth, and the Danish swimming community throughout the country is really starting to look to the great event.
Almost 7.500 tickets have been sold to nine different countries, the event’s mermaid mascot, Dana, has been visiting clubs and meets during the last six months, and in Copenhagen steps are made to involve the Danish swimming fans in the event by offering free swimming in the clean and beautiful harbour throughout the summer.
Facts on the event
Date: 13th to 17th of December 2017
Place: Royal Arena, Copenhagen, Denmark
Tickets on sale at www.ticketmaster.com/swim
Partners of the LEN European Short Course Championships 2017: Danish Swimming Federation, Sport Event Denmark, the City of Copenhagen, Wonderful Copenhagen, the Capital Region, and the largest swimming club of Copenhagen.