"I would like to support the campaign to keep athletics in the Stockholm
Arena.  It is a magnificent and historic stadium and I have enjoyed running
there.  I hope to see athletics in this stadium for many years to come."

Usain Bolt


"I couldnt't be more surprised when I heard about the idea changing one of
my favourite athletic arenas into football-only stadium... Surprised and
very sad.

Suddenly the flashbacks from the past are crossing in front of my eyes. One
perfect night, one perfect jump - my all time best result. I was enchanted
by the atmosphere, touched by the support of the Swedish crowd, enjoying
myself completely in the ambience of an old traditional but beautiful
stadium. Some magic force pushed me more and more, until I reached the sky
while I was flying over 207. One of my best memories, that's for sure !

It would be a shame not to be able to return to that place and try to
rewrite the history. Who knows, maybe Stockholm arena is designated to 'see'
even higher jumps. Don't take that away from us!"

Blanka Vlasic

"There are very few stadiums that can re-create the atmosphere of the
Stockholm Olympic Stadium. As an athlete it is always motivating to run in a
stadium so rich with history. I always run really well there because the
fans are so enthusiastic and knowledgeable. After the DN Galan meeting each
year I go out and watch the young kids compete in the stadium and I think it
would be a great injustice to the future of Swedish track and field if they
got rid of the track! I look forward to visiting and competing again this
year and many years to come."

Sanya Richards

"I have great memories from competing in Stockholm over the years.  My first
competition in the Stockholm stadium, I had the opportunity as a very young
sprinter to compete against Calvin Smith was my idol growing up.  One of my
most memorable moments in Stockholm was running 19.77 seconds, a stadium
record, in 1996 in my final race in preparation for the 1996 Olympics in
Atlanta, where I went on to lower the world record for 200 meters and
complete the historic 200/400 meter double.  It was always special to
compete in the Stockholm stadium because of the history associated with it,
especially the 1912 Olympics."

Michael Johnson

"Stockholm Arena is a historical stadium in Athletics, it is also my favorite
arena in Europe to run at. I have ran my 2nd fastest time in that Stadium. I
am looking forward to running more fast times in the arena."

Jeremy Wariner

"Of all the athletics stadiums in Europe, Stockholm is my favorite. When you
walk into the stadium you feel such a sense of history. I think of all the
great races that have been there before and I am inspired. Athletics is the
sport that built the stadium and it should always remain, to take it away
would be nothing short of a tragedy."

Asafa Powell

VM i Berlin 15-23 augusti blir höjdpunkten för friidrottarna 2009. Inför detta mästerskap blir DN Galan den 31 juli sista anhalten i raden av galor. Det blir också sista möjligheten med högkvalitativ tävlingsnivå att kvala in till VM för de som fortfarande jagar kvalresultat.

”DN Galan ligger perfekt i kalendern som sista stora gala inför mästerskapet då också de aktiva är mycket nära sin absoluta toppform. Vi låg som sista tävling inför VM i Osaka 2007 och hade en gala med idel toppresultat och 7 stadionrekord. I år låg Monte Carlo på motsvarande plats i kalendern och fick den högsta resultatnivån av alla galor under året” säger tävlingsdirektören Rajne Söderberg.

DN Galan byter även tävlingsdag till en fredag! Av flera anledningar blev ett byte till fredag aktuellt 2009, bl.a. är det väldigt trångt i tävlingskalendern och galans traditionella tisdag hade inneburet en kollision med tävlingen i Monte Carlo. Dessutom är fredagen ett bättre alternativ på sommaren både för företagsrepresentation och för åskådarna då det kan bli mer feststämning runt galan den dagen och de som vill ha en semesterhelg i Stockholm kan börja med DN Galan på fredagen. SVT har också visat sig positiva då det innebär att DN Galan inte behöver krocka med det mycket populära TV-programmet ”Allsång på Skansen”.

”DN Galan gick en fredag 1999 (just sista fredagen i juli) och det var ett väldigt högt tryck på biljetter och representationspaket. Galan kunde dock inte fortsätta på fredagar då p.g.a. att Golden League tävlingarna valde just fredagar men nu blev sista fredagen i juli ledig och det blev ett ypperligt tillfälle att återigen prova fredagar. Dessutom är vi nu helt redo om förfrågan om Golden League status skulle komma”, fortsätter Söderberg.

DN Galan fredag 31 juli 2009.

Meseret Defar delivered the second fastest race in history over 5 000 metres at the 42nd DN Galan, Tuesday July 22, 2008. 15 511 spectators voiced their enthusiasm as the diminutive Ethiopian, (155cm and 42 kilos) tried her best to beat the world record. After an unbelievable last lap in 60 seconds, she fell short by 1.73 seconds, but the time 14:12.88 was a new Stadium record.
- Today my feelings were good and I had a very nice time during the race because everyone at the Stadium supported me. Thank you!
The eyes of the world were watching the duel in the 100 metres between the new world record holder Usain Bolt and the former record holder Asafa Powell. Asafa got a great start and won in 9.88, one hundredth of a second to Usain. DN Galan was the only meeting between the Jamaicans in Europe.
Winners of 1-carat diamonds for Stadium records were:
Abubaker Kaki Khamis, Sudan, (1 000m – 2:13.93)
Dayron Robles, Cuba, (110m hurdles – 12.91)
Meseret Defar, Ethiopia, (5 000m – 14:12.88)
Yelena Isinbayeva, Russia, (pole vault – 4.85)

Honorary guests Tommie Smith and John Carlos whos quiet protest in the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City echoed all over the world, were welcomed with standing ovations.
Kajsa Bergqvist, the first DN Galan ambassador was celebrated for her fantastic career by, among other things a jump in unison by the spectators!
The national anthem was performed by Wei Wei and Rongedal together with singers from Adolf Fredriks children’s choir. The Chinese superstar also treated fans to a concert that included DN Galan’s song “Moment of Thruth” and the Olympic song “Follow the Dream”.