FISU Present at Stanley Cup Exhibition in the European Parliament
April 16th, 2008
The prominent guests and EP members
Hans-Gert Pöttering, President of the European Parliament opens the exhibition with Peter Stastny on the right (in the right corner the GBR worn jersey from Torino 2007 WU)
The Stanley Cup, the most prestigious trophy of the National Hockey League (NHL), the oldest trophy in the professional sport, was be exhibited for 24 hours in the European Parliament within the framework of the three-day event commemorating the 100th anniversary of international ice hockey. Hans-Gert Pöttering, President of the European Parliament, and Ján Figel, European Commissioner for Education, Training, Culture and Youth, served as patrons of this exhibition.
Ján Figel, European Commissioner for Education, Training, Culture and Youth
Prominent ice hockey personalities were present such as Viacheslav Fetisov, current Russian Minister of Sport, legendary ice hockey player, multiple World and Olympic Champion and Stanley Cup winner; Jan Havel, famous Czechoslovak player of the 1960s; Artürs Irbe, famous Latvian NHL goalie (1991-2004); Phil Pritchard, Vice-Chairman of the Ice Hockey Hall of Fame, Kimmo Leionen, Director of the Finish Ice Hockey Association. The idea for this exhibition was set in motion by Peter Štastný, former NHL great and currently an EP member for Slovakia to commemorate the 100 years of international ice hockey, as the IIHF, the International Ice Hockey Federation, celebrates its 100th birthday this year. Also celebrating its 100th anniversary is the Royal Belgian Ice Hockey Federation, one of the founding members of the IIHF and which was represented by its President Chris Clement and Secretary-General Christian Pierre, the FISU Media Rep.
The 'holy grail' of ice hockey: the Stanley Cup, for the first time in Belgium, one of the founding members of the IIHF
At the exhibition of ‘100 years of international ice hockey’, Universiade ice hockey could not be left out. Therefore at the exhibition a number of Universiade ice hockey memorabilia was exhibited, such as logo-pucks from the 2003, 2005 and 2007 editions and a game-worn jersey of team GBR from the first ever participation in the WU ice hockey tournament in Torino and autographed by all players. The exhibition also featured a display with an explanatory text about the Winter Unviersiade and some photos of previous WU ice hockey tournaments. Needless to say the exhibition was a huge success, with a lot of Belgian ice hockey fans, players and club delegates to admire one of the most legendary sports trophies in the world. FISU was represented by Staff members Christian Pierre and Michal Buchel, both former ice hockey players, and Milan Augustin, Director of the Winter Universiade.
Winter Universiade Display
Minister of Sport Fetisov and Milan Augustin with his wife Olga (former WU Champion and Olympic Champion Biathlon) and son Alexander
EP member Peter Stastny with Michal Buchel
Minister Fetisov with Christian Pierre
