Stanley Cup in the European Parliament

	The Stanley Cup, the most prestigious trophy of the National Hockey League (NHL), the oldest trophy in the professional sport, will 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.

Twelve Members of the European Parliament, from different political groups and nationalities, will present a briefing on ice hockey and its history, often linked to political developments in the 20th century, to their colleagues, officials, diplomats and journalists based in Brussels.

The opening ceremony will take place on 15 April 2008 at 18.00 hrs in the European Parliament, Yehudi Menuhin Hall. The organisers are: Peter Šťastný (SK), Richard James Ashworth (UK), Michael Brejc (SI), Valdis Dombrovskis (LV), Christofer Fjellner (SE), Othmar Karas (AT), Jacek Protasiewicz (PL), Alexander Stubb (FI), Oldřich Vlasák (CZ) (all EPP-ED), Erika Mann (PES/DE), Vladimír Maňka (PES/SK) and Hannu Takkula (ALDE/FI). Hans-Gert Pöttering, President of the European Parliament, and Ján Figeľ, European Commissioner for Education, Training, Culture and Youth, also kindly agreed to serve as patrons of this exhibition.

Prominent ice hockey personalities will participe including Kalervo Kummola, Vice-President of the International Ice Hockey Federation, Bill Daly, Vice-President of the NHL, Phil Pritchard, Vice-Chairman of the Ice Hockey Hall of Fame, Viacheslav Fetisov, Russian Minister of Sport, legendary ice hockey player and multiple World and Olympic Champion, Jan Havel, famous Czechoslovak player of the 1960s, and Artürs Irbe, famous Latvian goalkeeper in the NHL (1991-2004).

The Official Stanley Cup website

Press Release:

15/04/2008

The Stanley Cup in the European Parliament today - Historic opportunity to see the Cup in Belgium. Peter Šťastný MEP

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