Asterix and Obelix are official mascots of the 2017 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship, Germany – France
Asterix and Obelix, the two main characters of the world-famous Asterix comic series, are now acting as the official mascots of the 2017 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship (5th - 21st May 2017), jointly organized by Germany and France in Cologne and Paris.
385 days before the first face-off, the World Cup organizing committee gave this good news for them Fans, active members and everyone involved. The official introduction took place today with a video presentation www.iihfworlds2017.com, the official website of the 2017 IIHF World Championships, as well as on various social media.
Franz Reindl, President of the Deutscher Eishockey-Bund (DEB) and the Organizing Committee of the 2017 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship: “Together with our French colleagues in the IIHF World Championship organization, we were able to win Asterix and Obelix as official mascots. This is a huge coup for our 2017 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship in Cologne and Paris and for ice hockey in general, because the two Gallic heroes are extremely popular all over the world. The adventures of Asterix and Obelix are particularly popular in Germany and the circulation of the Asterix books always runs into the millions. As World Championship mascots, Asterix and Obelix will now actively help to promote the 2017 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship at home and abroad. During the tournament, they will Fans and provide great fun for those involved.”
Luc Tardif, President of the French Ice Hockey Federation (FFHG) and Vice President of the Organising Committee of the 2017 IIHF World Championship: “We are very proud that Asterix A global brand from France enriched our joint German-French 2017 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship in an extremely friendly way. The constant fight of the small Gallic village against the overpowering Roman Empire symbolizes the showdown between two supposedly unequal opponents, just as is often the case in ice hockey. The 2017 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship will also feature exciting sporting encounters in which on paper inferior teams will seek and get their chance against the favorites. For our Fans and the participating teams also represent Asterix and Obelix, two identification figures who show: Nothing is impossible.”
Les Éditions Albert René from Paris is the licensing partner of the 2017 IIHF World Championship Organizing Committee for the use of the brand Asterix. France and Germany are clearly the most important markets worldwide for the adventures of Asterix and Obelix. The global circulation of all volumes published to date is more than 365 million. The stories about the two indomitable Gauls, written by the writer René Goscinny and the illustrator Albert Uderzo, have developed into one of the most successful comic series in the world since their first publication in 1959. To date, there are 36 volumes that have been translated worldwide into over 111 languages and dialects, including Kölsch. Sporting themes are always present in the world of Asterix, such as in one of the most popular volumes of all, Asterix at the Olympic Games. For the first time, Asterix and Obelix turn to ice hockey.
Ahead of the 2017 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship, Asterix and Obelix will be used as official mascots on a variety of advertising and promotional materials and will make numerous live appearances. During the 17 World Cup days from May 5th to 21st, 2017, the two Gauls will be the main actors in the entertainment program in Cologne Lanxess Arena as well as the Parisian AccorHotels Arena including the respective connected ones Fan-Villages function.
Tickets for the 2017 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship are now available at www.iihfworlds2017.com
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