2022: The Honourable Citizen of the Year puts Gothenburg on the football map
– It feels great, it’s almost hard to take in. It’s been a long time since the gold was in Gothenburg and it’s amazing to bring it here again. It’s big for the city and it feels great to be a part of it, Jeremejeff says.
The jury’s motivation for choosing Alexander Jeremejeff says:
“BK Häcken has more than one string on their bow. Through youth football, women’s teams, Football Friday, Gothia Cup, community involvement and a genuine feeling of togetherness the football club leads the road ahead. But the team that scores the most goals wins and the most important legwork during the year belongs to Alexander Jeremejeff. He has a crucial role resulting in that the gold of this year’s Swedish professional football league ended up on the island of Hisingen, he also contributes greatly to Gothenburg’s reputation as a football city and is a worthy Honourable Citizen of Gothenburg of 2022.”
Honorary Citizen of Gothenburg 2022: Dennis Andersson
In 2022, the jury also chose to present an award as Honorary Citizen of Gothenburg to Dennis Andersson who for over 40 years has developed Gothia Cup and BK Häcken.
– I thought the gold of the Swedish Championship would be the biggest thing that happened this year. And then I’m awarded as this year’s Honorary Citizen of Gothenburg, and it’s just as wonderful, says Dennis Andersson.
The jury’s motivation for choosing Dennis Andersson says:
“Throughout the years, one million youths have gained lifelong memories of Gothenburg when they have participated in Gothia Cup. The annual youth tournaments are the backbone of Gothenburg’s worldwide reputation as an event city. Dennis Andersson is the visionary and driving spirit who has developed Gothia Cup into what it stands for today. The crowning glory was when BK Häcken, in which he had worked with for a long time, brought the island of Hisingens first gold in the Swedish professional league for men’s association football clubs called “Allsvenskan”. Dennis Andersson is a worthy Honorary Citizen of Gothenburg 2022.“
Honorary Citizen of Gothenburg – a special award
The Honorary Citizen of Gothenburg is a special award that can be awarded by the jury to a person who, with a warm heart and a sharp brain, has made significant contributions to Gothenburg. Just as the Honorable Citizen of Gothenburg, it should be a person who should:
- have done something good and positive that meant a lot to many people
- be a heartfelt, kind and recognized person
- be born in Gothenburg, or somewhere else
- be a good ambassador for Gothenburg
Honourable Citizen of Gothenburg – a long-standing tradition
Since 1993, Swedish Radio P4, the newspaper GT and Göteborg & Co name an Honourable Citizen of Gothenburg every year, a prize that is delivered during a grand ceremony and live broadcast in the shopping centre Nordstan. Among the previous Honourable Citizens are sports stars and artists as well as tv hosts, star chefs and writers.
So, what does it take to be named an Honurable Citizen? They should:
- have done something good and positive that meant a lot to many people
- be a heartfelt, kind and recognized person
- be born in Gothenburg, or somewhere else
- be a good ambassador for Gothenburg
1993: Leif “Loket” Olsson, the first awardeee
In 1993, the first Honourable Citizen of Gothenburg is named. The popular tv host Leif “Loket” Olsson, known from the show Bingolotto, is celebrated at a live broadcast in Nordstan where he receives flowers, a Gothenburg cap and a custom-made diploma.
1996: Maria Lundqvist is the first female Honourable Citizen
After three men in a row, it’s finally time for a female awardee in 1996. Actress Maria Lundqvist from the island Hälsö makes her breakthrough in Povel Ramel’s show Kolla klotet at Lorensbergsteatern and is named Honourable Citizen later that year.
2001: Håkan Hellström sings his way into Swedish hearts
In 2001, the first pop star is named Honourable Citizen of Gothenburg and it’s the one and only Håkan Hellström. In the year 2000, he has his breakthrough with the debut album Känn ingen sorg för mig Göteborg and the year after he reaches an even bigger audience when he appears on the tv show Allsång på Skansen. The jury motivates their choice like this:
“Håkan Hellström has this year sung his way into Swedish hearts and strongly contributed to create Popstad Göteborg. His artistry is filled with joy and the music builds on a local singer/songwriter tradition in a new form.”
2004: Christian Olsson och Yannick Tregaro share the award
In the early 2000s, Swedish Athletics is at its height and in 2004 the jury names not only one but two Honourable Citizens of Gothenburg – triple jumper Christian Olsson and his coach Yannick Tregaro. The jury says:
“Three gold medals in three years from European Championships, World Championships and Olympic Games have made Christian and Yannick an inseparable duo that outshines everyone when selecting the Honourable Citizen of Gothenburg in 2004.”
2005: Sing-along star Lotta Engberg takes over Liseberg Amusement Park
In the summer of 2004, Liseberg Amusement Park invites the audience to the first Lotta på Liseberg sing-along night. The show is a success and in 2005 the host Lotta Engberg is named Honourable Citizen of the Year. The jury writes that Lotta Engberg from “fermented herring land” is:
“… a heartfelt and kind person who worked with great commitment to make many people happy. Her professionality as an entertainer on numerous stages and on TV is impressive.”
2009: Nigar Ibrahim highlights integration and equality
Nigar Ibrahim is named Honourable Citizen of Gothenburg in 2009, and even though few people know who she is, her work is all the more important. She has worked for children’s rights organisation Bris, as a legal adviser and since 2006 with the organisation Sharaf Hjältar och Hjältinnor – where young people mobilise against honour violence and discrimination. The motivation says:
“Nigar Ibrahim works with Gothenburg’s future generations. For a city where people respect each other. Many have received support and guidance from her to find their path in life.”
2012: Leif Mannerström puts the spotlight on Gothenburg for foodies
Star chef Leif Mannerström’s cuisine has through the years made a great impact on Swedish gastronomy as well as the Gothenburg food scene. In 2012, he is named Honourable Citizen of Gothenburg with the motivation that he:
“… through decades has brought the people of Gothenburg great joy; through his iconic restaurants, his charity for the city’s young and old and through fostering a new generation of Gothenburg chefs.”
Leif Mannerström comments:
– It’s an amazing honour and I’m thrilled for this award. Personally and for my family, but also because it shows that our city really appreciates the food scene here.
2014: Laleh Pourkarim’s songs bridges generational and cultural gaps
In 2005, Laleh has her big breaktrough with the self-titled album Laleh, three Grammis awards and two P3 Guld awards. In 2014 she has released more albums and reached a wider audience in the tv shows Så mycket bättre and Allsång på Skansen. She is named Honourable Citizen of the year in November with the motivation:
“Laleh Pourkarim is an artist who touches others and who is in turn touched by others. Her art expresses exuberance and love to a huge audience that bridges generational and cultural gaps.”
2016: Pia Sundhage leads Sweden to an Olympic silver
Pia Sundhage is a true Swedish football icon. With four Swedish Championship golds, four Swedish Cup titles, five World championship medals and one European championship gold she is one of the most succesful players of all times. As a coach and manager she is, if possible, even more succesful and in 2016 she leads the Swedish women’s national team to an Olympic silver in Brazil. The same year she is named Honourable Citizen of Gothenburg with this motivation:
“Her contagious enthusiasm and her genuine love of football has taken her from Jitex to the world and back again, to the national arena in Gothenburg. This summer’s Olympic silver was a milestone for a player and leader who has carved a space for women’s football in Swedish minds and hearts.”
2018: Beatrice Fihn receives the Nobel Peace Prize for the work against nuclear weapons
Beatrice Fihn from Gothenburg neighbourhood Angered is the Secretary General for ICAN, a campaign against nuclear weapons that receives the Nobel Peace Prize in 2018. Her episode of the summer show Sommar i P1 on Swedish Radio is one of the most popular this year and in December she is named Honourable Citizen of Gothenburg. The jury describes the awardee like this:
“She fights for a safer world with an unshakeable energy. Awarding The Nobel Peace Prize to ICAN unnerves nuclear powers and sparks a call for freedom from the threat of destruction posed to mankind for over 70 years.”
2020: Agnes Wold guides Sweden through the Covid-19 pandemic
Agnes Wold is a Medical Doctor and a Professor of Clinical Bacteriology at the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg. During the Covid-19 pandemic, she appears in numerous media outlets and engages many through her Twitter account @AgnesWold. She is named Honourable Citiznen of Gothenburg 2020 with the following motivation:
“Agnes Wold is a professor and public educator. Equipped with research-based knowledge, seasoned with a good sense of humour and artistic expression, she is a scientific influencer of great proportions. During the pandemic year, she has used every media outlet available to spread common sense in an obscure and fast-changing world.”
All the Honourable Citizens of Gothenburg
- 1993: Leif “Loket” Olsson
- 1994: Thomas Ravelli
- 1995: Tomas von Brömssen
- 1996: Maria Lundqvist
- 1997: Jan Eliasson
- 1998: Viveca Lärn
- 1999: Jasenko Selimovic
- 2000: Mikael Ljungberg
- 2001: Håkan Hellström
- 2002: Eva Bergman
- 2003: Conny Evensson
- 2004: Christian Olsson and Yannick Tregaro
- 2005: Lotta Engberg
- 2006: Ingvar Oldsberg
- 2007: Håkan Mild
- 2008: Thomas Johansson
- 2009: Nigar Ibrahim
- 2010: Gustavo Dudamel
- 2011: Mia Skäringer
- 2012: Leif Mannerström
- 2013: Lasse Kronér
- 2014: Laleh Pourkarim
- 2015: Miriam Bryant
- 2016: Pia Sundhage
- 2017: Ruben Östlund
- 2018: Beatrice Fihn
- 2019: Joel Lundqvist
- 2020: Agnes Wold
- 2021: Mirja Wester and Jonas Holmberg
