Electric atmosphere awaits at Musholm

Musholm in Slagelse is the stage this week when the European Championship title in Powerchair Hockey will be contested for the first time since 2016. The action will be intense both on the pitch and in the stands, where all tickets have been sold in advance of Wednesday's opening ceremony and the showdown between Denmark and Belgium, which kicks off the tournament.

Parasport Denmark, Sport Event Denmark, Slagelse Municipality, Musholm and IPCH under World Abilitysport are behind the 2024 European Championship. This is the first time Denmark has hosted an official championship in a powerchair sport, and Parasport Denmark's president John Petersson is delighted that the reigning world champions from 2022 will have the opportunity to showcase themselves in front of a Danish audience.

- A special experience awaits the Danish players, who for many years have been among the very best in the world in a sport where the level of competition, especially in Europe, is constantly evolving. Everything indicates that the battle for the European title will be close and nerve-wracking, and I expect plenty of excitement for both spectators at Musholm and viewers at home, says John Petersson.

Lars Lundov, CEO of Sport Event Denmark, is also looking forward to the European Championships in Slagelse.

- This will be the second time in 14 days that Denmark will be home to Danish world champions. Last week it was the world champions in the 4000 m team pursuit who defended their title in front of packed stands in Ballerup Super Arena, and now the world champions in Powerchair Hockey face the same task at the European Championships on Musholm, says Lars Lundov.

Proud hosts
Close to 200 players, coaches and officials have arrived over the weekend in Slagelse, which is hosting a parasport championship for the first time. It's a milestone that pleases Mayor Knud Vincents.

- We are proud to host the Powerchair Hockey European Championship and look forward to following Denmark's journey through the tournament. The championship is an important event that emphasizes that our municipality has room for everyone - including people with physical disabilities. I am convinced that the participants will have an unforgettable experience, says Knud Vincents (V).

His words are echoed by Troels Brandt, Chairman of the Culture, Leisure and Tourism Committee, who will be among the speakers at the opening of the European Championships on Wednesday afternoon.

- It's very special that we can offer our own national team home field advantage in the quest for another international title. The energy and support is unique when our athletes have the opportunity to perform in front of their home crowd - and in the beautiful setting of Musholm, a visionary building that makes sport possible for people with different disabilities. It's going to be a really exciting championship that I look forward to following, says Troels Brandt (B).

At Musholm, CEO Henrik Ib Jørgensen is also looking forward to the premiere of the European Championship, and he is proud to welcome Europe's best Powerchair Hockey nations.

- Hosting an international championship tournament is probably the biggest checkmark we can put among Musholm’s goals of making a decisive difference in parasports and universal design in modern construction. Musholm’s accessibility for people with disabilities is a big part of the secret behind Denmark’s ability to compete at the highest level of parasport, says Henrik Ib Jørgensen, who is also director of the Danish Muscular Dystrophy Foundation.

Wednesday's opening ceremony at Musholm begins at 2 PM and will be attended by Parasport Denmark's patron HRH Princess Benedikte. One hour later, the opening match between Denmark and Belgium will mark the first game action of the tournament.

If you have been unable to secure a ticket to the European Championship, all matches can be streamed live and rewatched on demand on IPCH's YouTube channel.