DN Galan Youth wants to give the athletes (12-19 years old) opportunity to compete under the same conditions as the elite athletes. Calling, entry, Web-TV, live results, big screen, etc should be an experience out of the ordinary that inspires athletes to continue with athletics. Every athlete should feel that he or she is in the spotlight during the competition.

At the same time, we want action outside the track. Therefore, we have created a sponsor village in our VIP square where our sponsors can present themselves in different ways. Also, world starswill visite and write autographs. In the VIP square, we also give out T-shirts to all participants andthere is a restaurant servinghealthy food.

First year

The decision to arrange the competition was made in March 2007 and a projet team consisting ofJan Kowalski, Silke Burestam, Fredrik Severin, Ulrika Hellberg, Bengt Görtzand Erica Myrefelt was formed.

After advertising at competitions all over the country, DN Galan Youth gathered 1373 events, a sufficent line upfor thefirst year. There were athletes from all over Sweden, as well as athletes from Norway, Finland, Russia, Denmark and the Faeroe Islands.

The competition was carried through without any problems, except for a short break caused by a thunderstorm.

Second year

Forthe second year, we improved the arrangement and with incredible weather and 50% more participants there were two amazing days of competitions. We had competitors from 11 countries andNorway participated with a team consisting of their top athletes in these age groups.Incooperation with Backbone and Globenhälsan, we offered free naprapathy and massageto all participants.

This year's novelty was a shot put competition, DN Galan Big Shot,in Kungsträdgården on Monday the day before the big gala. In connection with this, we took the opportunity to invite the top-5 ranked boys and girls in the age groups 13, 15, 17 and 19 toa shot put competition, DN Galan Youth Shot, in the morning. The competition was very appreciated and all the invited athletes accepted the invitation. Distributor of prizes were Per Elofsson ( a famous Swedish skier) and Erica Johansson, the Swedish record holder in long jump.

The organisation team consisted of Jan Kowalski, Silke Burestam, Fredrik Severin, Ulrika Hellbergand Bengt Görtz.

Third year

The third year of DN Galan Youth was yet another success, and the many participants (2403 events) shows that the gala has become a very popular part of the Swedish competition calendar. The sun shone almost incessantly on Stadion during the two days of competition and the very elite of Swedish youth athletes got the opportunity to compete with equals from Netherlands, Hungary, Denmark, Egypt, USA, Norway, Finland, Germany, Latvia and the Faeroe Islands.

The new youth champions Angelica Bengtsson, pole vault, and Johan Rogestedt, 800 meters, attended and both won their pespective events - Johan this time deciding to do the 1500 meters - on new stadium records.

The novelty this year was The Youth Diamond K, a 1000 meters race that took place in connection with DN Galan on friday evening. The Youth Diamond K was a race for the best 14-year old boys and girls in Sweden and it was greatly appreciated by the participators.

The organisation team consisted of Fredrik Severin, Silke Burestam, Bengt Görtz and Clara Luthman.

Facts