Denmark Now in High Speed with the UCI BMX World Championships 2011

The UCI BMX World Championships 2011 finished yesterday in Copenhagen, Denmark. It was in all aspects a great success: In regards to sports results, spectators and at the organisational level. With these championships Denmark has reached high speed. In September two more championships are to be staged: The UCI Para-Cycling Road World Championships and the UCI Road World Championships.

"With more than 2,000 athletes and 6,000 spectators on the day of the finals the UCI BMX World Championships lived up to the sky-high expectations we had to the event. For the last 3 years Copenhagen has played host to BMX Supercross World Cups. We have therefore had the opportunity to build up to these prestigious championships," says Lars Lundov, CEO, Sport Event Denmark and continues: "This year alone Denmark will host three UCI World Championships: Also The UCI Para-Cycling Road World Championships and the UCI Road World Championships. This is a golden opportunity to capitalize from the synergy and the momentum that arise from every event in order to brand Denmark as a sports event nation and a cycling destination."

2,202 BMX-riders, including 311 elite riders, from 38 nations participated in the UCI BMX World Championships in Copenhagen from the 27th to the 31st of July. Denmark was by far the largest participating nation with just over 300 riders in the different age groups and classes. No less than 18,000 spectators visited the venue during the 5 days of competition and around 6,000 spectators were seated for the finals.

"With these UCI BMX World Championships and the UCI Road World Championships in September Copenhagen will have a brilliant opportunity to showcase that we stage world class events and that cycling is a natural part of Danish culture. We have this time upgraded especially the promotion on social media. This has promoted the BMX sport and Denmark to a wide range of followers. Such a communication effort has never been seen before at this high level within BMX World Championships," says Lars Vallentin Christensen, Senior Business Development Manager in Wonderful Copenhagen

For the BMX sport in Denmark the world championships have put focus on the sport. Initially this should attract new members to the Danish clubs. In Denmark BMX is organised by Danmarks Motor Union, (The Danish Motor Sports Union), DMU. The president of DMU, Jørgen Bitsch explains.

"Today DMU has 100 clubs with just over 10,000 members, including 1,000 BMX riders. These World Championships and the previous 3 World Cups have branded the BMX sport. As the national federation we shall make the most out of it and our clubs are now getting ready to welcome all the new members that have been inspired by the world class riders at the championships. Without the collaboration with Wonderful Copenhagen and Sport Event Denmark the UCI BMX World Championships - nor the World Cups - would have been possible," says Jørgen Bitsch.

The UCI BMX World Championships 2011

Both in 2008, 2009 and 2010, Denmark has hosted a BMX Supercross World Cup. Throughout this period of time, the organisers have upgraded the track and it was ready for the championships, including two permanent starting ramps (5 and 8 metres). In 2010, this BMX-track was announced as Europe's best by the UCI and after the UCI BMX World Championships 2011 it is an ideal training venue for the world elite in its preparations for the Olympic Games 2012 in London.

The UCI Para-Cycling Road World Championships 2011

Cyling is one of the biggest sports within para-sports. In Denmark, there are approx. 600 active riders and Denmark has a long-standing tradition for medals at the Para-Olympics (gold in Athens) as well as at European and World Championships, both on track and road. The participants at the event in Roskilde will use the race as a potential leverage for their London 2012 Para-Olympics qualification. The participants are competing in different classes of handicap, split up into four categories each according to the level of disability.

The UCI Road World Championships 2011

With an expected live-audience of 400,000 over the 6 days of race and about 1,000 journalists, not to mention a tv-coverage of 400 hrs, this huge cycling event is by no means the greatest of the said three hallmark events.

The Danish Cycling Federation has about 25,000 members and is the 14th largest sports federation in Denmark (under the auspices of the National Olympic Committee and Sports Confederation of Denmark).

FACTS:

Copenhagen is the only city in the world, which has been appointed as Bike City by the UCI by now and between 2008 and 2011 Copenhagen is host of 6 major international cycling events. HRH Crown Prince Frederik, who is also an IOC-member, is protector for the BikeCity events.

Behind BCC (Bike City Copenhagen) stand as strong partners as the Danish Motor Sport Union, the Danish Cycling Federation, Sport Event Denmark, the City of Copenhagen, the City of Ballerup, the City of Rudersdal, the Capital Region and Wonderful Copenhagen.

27-31 July: the World BMX Championships in Copenhagen

8-11 September: the UCI Para-Cycling Road World Championships in Roskilde

19-25 September: UCI Road World Championships in Copenhagen/Rudersdal

For more information, contact:www.sporteventdenmark.com

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