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ONCE UPON A TIME…
…in 1954 and 1955.
The prominent Swedish bandy leaders Sune Almkvist and Torsten Tegnér made some fruitless attempts at creating bandy contacts with Soviet. Gunnar Galin and Börje Tegfors followed up with more success. The result was a four-nation tournament in Moscow in 1954.
The leaders of the four nations, Norway, Finland, USSR and Sweden, spoke of forming a Federation and a preparatory meeting was held in Helsinki on 4-5 September, 1954. This led to the establishment of the International Bandy Federation IBF (now FIB) in Stockholm on 12 February 1955. Signatures to the founding document were L.I. Suurla, Finland, Jens Raanaas, Norway, Michail Kanunnikov, USSR and Gunnar Galin, Sweden.
Gunnar Galin was elected to be the first Federation President and he chose his own Swedish Federation Secretary, Börje Tegfors, as General Secretary.
At the initial Congress common rules were accepted and already at the Moscow Tournament, the Soviets insured that the Nordic countries gave approval to the boards on the sides of the ice that they had already adopted. And so it was. At the same time the Soviets accepted the somewhat more flexible Swedish Bandy sticks. Also on the agenda stood a proposal to institute a championship competition.
A significant contribution to establishing bandy contacts with Soviet was made by Finlands Bandy Secretary John Gustafsson. He worked intensively with the Sports Committee in Moscow and from there opened the way to Moscow Tournament through the generous offer to pay the travel and accommodation expenses for the three Nordic teams.
Gunnar Galin, the historic first President and held that post 1955-1963.
They say he played bandy like an angel. Possibly due to Galin’s smooth play, his genius for playing off his teammates and his exquisite ball sense. In addition, he was small in stature and had what is usually called a “biblical” profile.
He was the strategist and forward who let the others score the goals. Typical for him is said to be the time in 1920 when AIK beat Nacka 20-1 in bandy at Laduviken: He did not score a single one of the twenty goals. Galin was also a successful ice hockey player, but in bandy he won 4 Swedish championships with IK Göta and played 9 international matches. Gunnar Galin passed away in 1997 at the age of 94.
1992 FIB SJ WORLD CUP MEN
Ljusdal, Sweden
No documentation found on this World Cup tournament but in the final, IK Sirius from Uppsala, Sweden, took a big victory against Sandvikens AIK. Sirius became champion by winning with a whopping 7-0.
FIB 1989 SJ WORLD CUP MEN
Ljusdal, Sweden
Unfortunately no documentation found from this tournament. But the final was played between Västerås SK and Sandvikens AIK. Västerås became World Cup champion after a 3-0 victory.
1992 FIB WORLD CUP WOMEN
Edsbyn and Ljusdal, Sweden
This is the second World Cup for womens national teams. The teams met each other in 2 games and Sweden won all 4 of the teams matches against USSR and Finland.
1990 FIB WORLD CUP WOMEN
Köping, Sweden
This is the first World Cup tournament for women. As the participants were national teams it could have been a predecessor for the World Championship tournaments for women. Anyway it was played in Köping Sweden.
9 Teams ready for the World Cup in Bollnäs!
The participating teams are now ready for one of the first World Cup tournaments this season. During 1-3 November,
9 teams will be competing in FIB 2024 Mini World Cup for boys born not earlier than 2009 in SBB Indoor Arena in Bollnäs, Sweden. This is the World Cup among the FIB tournaments that consists of the youngest players.
The tournament will have teams from Sweden, Norway and Finland. Norway is represented by Ready Bandy from Oslo and Stabæk IF from Bærum. Warkauden Pallo 35 from Varkaus, popularly called WP 35, is representing Finland. From the home nation Sweden, Edsbyns IF, IFK Kungälv, Lidköpings AIK, Spånga/Helenelund, Villa Lidköping BK and Bollnäs GIF participates.
FIB EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING
Yesterday, Saturday 14 September, the FIB Executive Committee held its first in-person meeting since the Congress in Stockholm, Sweden. The EC discussed several topics, including approval of new members to the FIB Committees, modification of the current Anti-Doping Rules, report on the FIB 2025 World Championships, and the extension of the Staylive partnership.
One of the main discussion points of the Executive Committee meeting was the creation of the FIB Strategic Plan. After the Congress approved the project back in June, the EC laid out the framework, process, and timelines for the Strategic Plan, focusing on long-term objectives and priorities for the organization. The plan includes continuous consultation with internal and external stakeholders to ensure that the Federation can grow the sport on a global scale, expand its fan base and achieve recognition at the highest levels of international competition.
EC-members on site at Arlanda, Stockholm, at the meeting. From left Chanel Gilomen, Stein Pedersen, President Henrik Nilsson, Mikhail Entaltsev, Antti Parviainen, Attila Adamfi and Hans Elis Johansson. Andrew Knutson and Rebecca Draper participated online and Dawei Wu was absent.
A broader strategic discussion was facilitated by Hans-Elis Johansson, where members engaged in an in-depth conversation about the future direction of the sport and the organization. According to the project plan the FIB Strategic Plan will be presented at the 2025 FIB Congress.
Henrik Nilsson, FIB President said after the meeting:“
-Today’s meeting was a critical step in shaping the future of international bandy. With key decisions made regarding upcoming events, partnerships, anti-doping measures, and strategic plans, the FIB is well-positioned to continue its growth and uphold the values of the sport.
In order to support greater transparency in FIB’s operation, the EC meeting minutes are always published on the website after approval under the Executive Committee.
12 FIB TOURNAMENTS THIS SEASON!
On Saturday, 14 September, FIB Executive Committee, had it’s meeting at Arlanda Airport in Sweden. One of the matters on the agenda was to continue to make decisions on international tournaments this season. There are only two tournaments left to be decided. World Championship Men Group B and World Championship Women 17. They will be published as soon as the agreements are made with the organizers.
The planning process is ongoing for most of the tournaments. Here you get the full list of the 12 tournaments this season. Maybe to put in your calender.
NOTE: All tournaments except European Championship Rinkbandy are played in Sweden.
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP – NATIONAL TEAMS
Hungary will play in Group A after winning Group B 2023.. Photo: FIB
Senior Men Group A
25-30 March, Sparbanken Lidköping Arena (indoor), Lidköping
Senior Women
25-30 March, Sparbanken Lidköping Arena (indoor), Lidköping
Senior Men Group B
This tournament will be published when the agreement is signed with the organizer.
Youth Men 19
17-19 January, Göransson Arena (indoor), Sandviken
Youth Men 17
17-19 January, Göransson Arena (indoor), Sandviken
Youth Women 17
This tournament is also to be decided when there is an agreement with the organizer.
WORLD CUP – CLUB TEAMS
Oldboys +42
15-17 November, Gränsvallen Stadium (outdoor), Haparanda
Youth Men 19
2-4 January, Gubbängens Bandyhall (indoor), Stockholm
Youth Men 17
4-6 January, Gubbängens Bandyhall (indoor), Stockholm
Youth Women 17
1-3 November, Åby Ishall (indoor), Gothenburg
Youth, Men 16
1-3 November, SBB Arena (indoor), Bollnäs
EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP RINKBANDY – NATIONAL TEAMS
Youth, Men 19
10-11 August, Bratislava (indoor)
NEW FIB EC DECISIONS
The FIB Executive Committee has made several online decisions of 31 August. In this news update you can read about some of them. The Minutes from those online decisions can be read in full at the bottom.
FROM SWEDEN TO NORWAY
The youth player Moa Ellefsen and the Norwegian Bandy Federation have requested to change her (sport) “citizenship” from Sweden to Norway based on her confirmed dual citizenship. Moa Ellefsen have been representing the Swedish national team until now. FIB Executive Committee approved that request with immediate effect. The Athlete actually does not change her citizenship as she has double citizenship, but the request was to play for Norway instead of Sweden. This type of International Transfer is only possible to do once during a players career. The Swedish Bandy Federation have fully supported the athletes request.
GENERAL SECRETARY
Another decision was to extend the duty for FIB General Secretary Attila Adamfi for the current term and with the same conditions. The assignment is now valid until 2028.
LONG TERM COMBINED CLUB TEAMS ARE ALLOWED IN WORLD CUP YOUTH
Several of the conditions that have applied to FIB International tournaments have been updated in recent months and some are even new. The latest new conditions that have been approved by the Executive Committee are the conditions for World Cup tournaments for club teams Senior and Youth.
Club teams eligible to participate in World Cups are nominated by their national association. The national associations nominate the best and top ranked national club teams in respective age. If a youth club team is combined with players from two clubs and officially participates in the national championships or league, the combined team is also allowed to participate in a World Cup youth tournament. Temporary combined teams are not allowed.
MEMBERSHIP FEES
The Executive Committee also approved the Membership Fees for 2024/2025 and beyond same as in 2023/2024.
THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE DECISIONS ARE TO BE READ HERE
Ongoing work with decided FIB International Tournaments
The preparations for the international tournaments for the coming season are now in full swing. One of them has already been completed. The European Championship in Rinkbandy for Men 19 was played in Bratislava earlier in August. Slovakia won this first title. Everything about that tournament can be read in a news update here on the FIB website.
Three senior World Championship tournaments will be played in Sweden. Men Group A and Women will be decided in Lidköping 25-30 March. Both tournaments will be held indoors in Sparbanken Lidköping Arena. Men Group B will also be arranged in Sweden. Venue and date will be decided soon.
Photo: Martin Henriksson
There are two more World Championships to be played in Sweden. These are the tournaments for men 17 and 19 years old. Both tournaments will be held indoors in Göransson Arena in Sandviken 17-19 January.
The preparatory work is also ongoing for two World Cup tournaments for club teams. The closest tournament in time is World Cup Men 16. It will be played indoors in SBB Arena in Bollnäs, Sweden, 1-3 November. The registration period for that tournament ended 18 August and 9 teams had then registered, of which one team has been given a slightly longer period of reflection. This World Cup will include teams from Finland, Norway and Sweden. The teams will later be published here on FIB website.
The other World Cup tournament is for Men 17 and will be held in Gubbängens indoor Arena in Stockholm, 4-6 January. The invitations were sent out yesterday, 27 August and the registration period ends on 31 October.
There will also be a World Cup tournament for Men 19, but the venue and the dates are not yet decided.
You can read all about these tournaments here on FIB website. Go to the Menu on top of the main page and click “Season 2024-2025”. There you have details about all tournaments. And more information will be added as the planning work progresses.
