BÖRJE SALMING IS HONORED BY ICEHOTEL AND KIRUNA MUNICIPALITY – HE GETS HIS OWN STATUE OF ICE AND A STREET NAMED AFTER HIM
On Sunday, Börje Salming will be honored by Icehotel with a statue made entirely of ice. During a ceremony on Sunday, it will be unveiled to the public in Jukkasjärvi. This in the presence of his family and in consultation with Börja Salming's ALS foundation. At the same time, the street of Börje Salming will also be inaugurated in the presence of municipal councilor Gunnar Selberg.
A statue of Börje Salming made entirely of ice has been given a place of honor at the Icehotel to commemorate his legendary career. The statue is placed inside the hotel to be visited by guests all year round.
Created in proportional size, the statue depicts the hockey legend wearing a Toronto Maple Leafs game jersey and a full skate outfit. The statue is created by the artist Tjåsa Gusfors, one of Icehotel's most employed and experienced artists. Börje Salming has been able to follow the whole process and see the statue take form.
– Börje Salming has meant a lot to so many and not least to the residents here in Kiruna, where he grew up and began his hockey career. An athlete of dignity, but also a generous person who acted as a mentor to other athletes and was engaged in social issues. An icon strongly linked to the ice, just like the Icehotel. Here he has an obvious place. We give his statue a place of honor in the Icebar, where it can be visited by our guests who come to us - all year round, says Marie Herrey, CEO Icehotel.
Börje Salming's immediate family will be present during the unveiling at Icehotel to pay tribute to him and the impression he made together with the residents of Kiruna where he was born and raised.
This ceremony is held in consultation with Börje Salming’s ALS Foundation. During Sunday’s unveiling, there will be an opportunity for guests to donate to Börje Salming’s ALS foundation. The foundation works to draw attention to ALS and contribute to the research to find a cure. They also work to be a support to families going through the life crisis that ALS entails.
– Börje Salming is an icon and a legend we will never forget. He will be forever missed, but we will never forget you. Great as a player and even greater as a person. It feels good to remember him like this in the Toronto Maple Leafs jersey - RIP 21, says Rikard Josefson, chairman of Börje Salming's ALS Foundation.
The unveiling takes place at the Icehotel on Sunday, December 4th at 4 p.m. In connection with the statue's unveiling, the inauguration of Börje Salmings street will also take place at Icehotel. Municipal councilor Gunnar Selberg will be present on-site for this inauguration.
During the ceremony, there will be an opportunity to donate money to Börje Salming's ALS Foundation:
https://borjesalmingstiftelse.se/
The event will be broadcast live on Facebook, where you can follow the unveiling of Börje Salming's statue:
https://www.facebook.com/icehotel.sweden/
For more information or interview requests please contact:
Artist Tjåsa Gusfors in progress of creating the statue of Börje Salmning.
