Press release
On the March 5 -6, European decision-makers from the cycling world gather in Odense for the UEC’s annual Congress. More than 120 leaders from the national cycling associations and around 50 different nations will participate. UCI President David Lappartient, who is visiting Fyn for the second time in six months, has announced his participation.
UEC president, Enrico Della Casa, looks forward to giving the participants a genuine on-site experience after several attempts to host the event which initially resulted in an online version last year.
-I have been in Odense three times now as preparation for the UEC-congress and I have experienced the local host’s strong dedication in making things work even during the difficult circumstances the pandemic has given us. We are so happy to finally being able to gather here and I am looking forward to hosting my first congress as a president, while all delegates have the opportunity to experience a little more of Bike Island Fyn – among other things the inspiring velodrome, says UEC president Enrico Della Casa.
A visit to the Velodrome ”Thorvald Ellegaard Arena” will display an economically sustainable solution which has also proved its effect on the local cycling. The velodrome, in particular, has been the subject of great interest within the cycling world. No less than 7000 Odense school students are annually through cycling school in Thorvald Ellegaard Arena. It helps to create a basis for a massive talent development in the local club, Cycling Odense.
The Danish Cycling Federation is looking forward to sharing the experiences with the velodrome and welcoming the many foreign colleagues:
-It is a great pleasure that we can restart the work of the Congress. The Covid-19 pandemic has not made things more accessible, so now I am both happy and excited to see friends, colleagues, and delegates here in the fantastic setting in Odense, says president of the Danish Cycling Federation, Henrik Jess Jensen, who is also vice-chairman of UEC.
The pleasure of hosting is shared by Destination Fyn:
It is generally essential for our us to put Fyn on the world map as a cycling destination. In collaboration with Sport Event Denmark, and the Danish Cycling Federation, we host this UEC congress. UEC has the rights to many events, which could be of interest for Fyn. With the hosting of the Congress, we demonstrate our ability to create a synergy between sporting events, business and tourism. Fyn and Denmark are in the international spotlight when it comes to cycling, says event manager at Destination Fyn Jakob Staun.
Sport Event Denmark also sees the Congress as a showcase for Denmark as a cycling event nation and cycling destination. The Year of Cycling in Denmark is a great display window for the various cycling activities over the summer:
-When the participants from about 50 different nations are on Fyn, we, together with Destination Fyn, and the Danish Cycling Federation, have good opportunities to focus on how cycling shapes the summer of 2022 in Denmark. The Grand Départof Tour de France and the sold-out mass participation cycling race Tour de Storebælt pass the Bike Island of Fyn, says Lars Lundov, CEO, Sport Event Denmark.
