Skiing around the castle: Royal Palace Sprint 2012

Yesterday it happened again: Thousands of Swedes and ski fans made their way to the Royal Palace in Gamla Stan, Stockholms Old Town. They all wanted to see top international skiers speed across the about 1km route around the palace. The competition is together with the Swedish Ski Games in Falun the FIS world cup final for the 2011/2012 season.

The Royal Palace Sprint was arranged for the first time in 2000 and usually takes place in mid-March. The race track is 1.030 meters long and follows 3 out of 4 sides of the Royal Castle. The start is below the Royal Castle eastern side, toward the waterfront. The finish is on top of Slottsbacken, at the great obelisk. There, you had also the opportunity to follow the entire spectacle on a big screen.

In general, skiing is very popular in Sweden, but the Royal Palace Sprint not only attracts ski fans and cross country lovers. It is more a festival who takes place in the heart of Stockholm and appeals also to those who have no knowledge of the sport.

By the way, the snow for the Royal Palace Sprint came with trucks from ski resort Hammarbybacken in central Stockholm. After a week with about 5-10 degrees there was of course not enough of natural snow around the castle.

And who won the Royal Palace Sprint this year? Three-time Olympic champion Marit Bjoergen of Norway won the women’s race, beating Julia Ivanova of Russia by 0.3 seconds. Norway’s Eirik Brandsdal won the men´s race in two minutes 13.6 seconds while Sweden’s Teodor Peterson was second.

2012 – a Strindberg year

August Strindberg (1849-1912) is one of Sweden’s most widely-read and translated writers. Because 2012 marks the 100th anniversary of Strindberg’s death, the Swedish Arts Council, the City of Stockholm through the Stockholm City Theatre and the Swedish Institute has decided to pay special attention on Strindberg´s work. This will be celebrated in Stockholm throughout the year, with exhibitions, seminars, stage plays, and other events. The aim is to encourage people to explore, experience and discuss the work of August Strindberg.

A new Swedish Web site, strindberg2012.se, launched on December 1^st,  gathers information from Stockholm, Sweden and all over the world about Strindberg activities taking place during Strindberg’s centennial year. Furthermore, the website will provide information related with the topic like the author´s biography and a lot of articles about Strindbergs artistic work.

Millesgården Stockholm: Pippi Longstocking and More

On Saturday, January 28, started a new exhibition at Millesgården – an oasis just a few minutes from downtown Stockholm. Until May 20 this unique area including a museum with antique collection, sculpture garden and art gallery is presenting an exhibition of Ingrid Vang Nyman, artist and children’s book illustrator. She is best known for her illustrations for Astrid Lindgren’s Pippi Longstocking books.

This exhibition is not intended just for children. It is also designed to delight adults who would like to meet their childhood heroes once again. The presentation includes original illustrations, as well as a scenography in which children and adults can play. The exhibition focuses on the books about Pippi Longstocking, Jugga Jagga and Vagge Vugge, The Children of Noisy Village and the posthumously published Människornas land, (Land of man) a book about Greenland with illustrations by Ingrid Vang Nyman.

An exhibition that should not be missed! Even Astrid Lindgren said ”Every author who has been fortunate enough to find a congenial illustrator for their book, would be eternally grateful to that artist”. A perfect weekend excursion to meet Pippi Longstocking and other famous children’s books characters. (And the best: Admission is free for children up to 19 years!)

For more information and opening hours visit Millesgårdens Homepage

ISPO 2012: Ready, steady, go!

We are very excited! Just a few days left until the leading international sports business trade show: ISPO Munich from January 29^th to February 1^st 2012.

Over 60,000 visitors from more than 100 countries and more than 2.000 international exhibitors are expected, including our business partners SOG, PrimaLoft, Polartec, Salomon and Suunto. Of course, the Mandel Team will be close to the action as well and we´re looking forward to discover the latest developments and innovations for technologies of sporting goods, athletic footwear and fashions especially from the outdoor segment. Furthermore, fashion shows, presentations, discussions, reports and movies will be on the agenda.

Another highlight will be the presentation of all the winners and nominees for the new ISPO AWARD which is presented for outstanding innovations within the sporting industry in the divisions Product and Eco Responsibility. Among the winners of this year’s ISPO Awards in the category Footwear & Binding is the Guardian 16 by Salomon – a freeride binding with an unlatching mechanism.

For more information about ISPO check out: www.ispo.com

Hope to see you soon in Munich!

Winter enjoyment: Ice skating at Stockholms Kungsträdgården

Bundle up your warm clothes, fill your thermos bottle and get to Stockholm´s park Kungsträdgården! Here, the outdoor ice rink is a popular local point all winter long and a must-do for many winter visitors. It´s open from mid-November until March – as long as it’s cold enough for the ice. You can rent skates at an accessible price or you bring your own equipment. Opening hours vary, but the rink normally opens before lunch and closes sometime between 6.30 and 8.30 pm.

But don´t get discouraged: Scandinavians are very good at ice skating. For Stockholm visitors coming to the city during the winter months, a great afternoon can be spent here at the venue Kungsträdgården.

Remake of Stieg Larsson´s “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo”: Do we really need an American Version?

For months people have asked “Why do Hollywood feel the need to make an English-language remake of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo? And right after the original version came out?”

The Swedish thriller, released in 2009, was the first of three films based on Stieg Larsson’s best-selling Millennium crime novels and was a huge hit in Scandinavia.
One main point for the new Version directed by David Fincher is that “American audiences typically hate subtitles,” says Tonia Edwards, who teaches film and media at Georgia State University. “For most foreign films, it’s an insurmountable challenge.”

So, however critically garlanded a film is, the English-speaking audience will automatically reduce the film’s chances at the box office and confine it to the status of art film, whatever its content.

Indeed! Even though the film was based on a bestselling novel, the Swedish version only grossed $10 million. So it´s more profitable to spend $100 million on a remake and getting the certainty that the Americans will love this film.

Furthermore, malicious tongues claim that Americans also want a familiar director, some thrilling chase scenes and a recognizable male lead (James Bond says hello). No one knows.

However, the result is, that The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo doesn’t ignore the original movie and is neither a “cheap copy”. They build on it and maintain the original’s contemplative, methodical tone. The new version is neither better nor worse than the Swedish film, but it´s more cinematic. Män som hatar kvinnor was originally made for television whereas the remake meant to be seen in one shot. There are no wasted scenes or a single minute where the movie drags on.

So, do we really need this remake? Maybe we don´t, but since we’re now having one, at least David Fincher made a great job.