IFF President Foreword CC 2015 — 30.09.2015

Dear Floorball friends,

The Floorball family has again the pleasure to gather in the Czech Republic, in Mlada Boleslav, for yet another top IFF event organised by the CFBU, the fifth edition of the Champions Cup. The Czech Republic has over the years staged a significant number of top events, all from the WFC 1998 to today´s CC.CFBU has always delivered with high quality and top atmosphere, I am confident we will have this amazing experience again, now for the second time in the lovely city of Mlada Boleslav.

The CC is now staged and organised with a new format, decided by the stakeholders, from 5 to today´s 3 days. We have together starting from this summer invested in a Brand Manager, and I greet heartily welcome Mr. Milan Rantakari, who amongst other things in close co-operation with the stakeholders as organisers of the CC will work with sales and marketing and branding the CC in order for this top event to develop.

Floorball has taken important steps forward, in order to reach our Vision 2020 and a place in the Olympic Games. With the IOC President, Mr Thomas Bach, we see in his vision “Olympic Agenda 2020”, a lot of initiatives, including possible rotations of sports on the Olympic program, and hence the “upgrading” of the World Games.

Concerning multi-sport events Floorball is successfully now on the World Games in July 20-30, 2017 in Poland, in the city of Wroclaw. Taking part in these multi-sports events requires that we really go public, on all levels and communicate the important values that Floorball possess, showcasing Floorball with many spectators, and a good youth oriented atmosphere, continuously having all matches streamed on the internet. Plans for TWG in 2021 in Birmingham, Alabama USA, is good on its way in good co-operation with Floorball USA.

The Floorball family is launching the EOTO project, “each one teach one”, a mentor mentee project, where we  are right now launching a number of mentor mentee projects, and this will in the long run enable us to meet one important objective, that is “closing the gap” between the Floorball countries and hence give more quality to our sport. The EOTO is a very challenging project, where to my knowledge Floorball is maybe the first sport to encounter this path.

The IFF conveys our gratitude to the city of Mlada Boleslav and the Czech Floorball Union, for your good management, for your support and commitment.

On behalf of the entire Floorball family, I greet all the participants; athletes, officials, volunteers, spectators, sponsors and co-operating partners and the representatives of media, heartily welcome to the fifth edition of the Champions Cup.

Looking forward to thrilling matches

Tomas Eriksson
IFF President