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Volunteering in the shot

One weekend a year, the population in Grue municipality triples. The reason is the Kongsvinger region's largest sports event, the Grue Tournament, which is realized thanks to 800 proud enthusiasts.

294 teams, 2.994 young football parkers and 10.000 visitors. These are the hard facts from the 39th edition of a tournament that takes place in a municipality with just over 4.600 inhabitants.

- We started with eight invited teams, and with a constant ambition to expand, we have grown to what we are today. It is with great pride that I look back on what we have created, says Roy Bråthen, who has been the tournament leader every single year since the tournament was first kicked off in 1981.

Volunteering a part of the culture

The recipe for success is the fiery souls; the people who line up for their home village say to create a unique experience for young football players from Røros in the north, Halden in the south and Sweden in the east.

- We have to fill roles such as night guards, parking guards, track managers, judges, waiters, salesmen in the kiosk, accommodation staff, disco guards. Year after year, 800 horror searches show up to contribute - both private individuals, teams and associations, and the municipality, says pensioner Bråthen.

Volunteering is very strong in the Kongsvinger region, which, for example, was emphatically proven during the great flood in 1995. Roy Bråthen believes that the spirit of hard work is simply part of the culture in our district.

- It is incredibly important to take this responsibility as citizens. You do not get everything for free in this life. Volunteering gives back to those who show up - both in the form of a social network, and lessons learned by doing things you have not done before. It is only with unity and community that we manage to develop our village or association, describes the tournament leader, and comes at the same time with a small sigh of relief.

- Unfortunately, it is my generation that is still the driving force, and we see that it is difficult to engage the younger generations. What we achieved during the flood we had not managed today. Many people are busy sitting on their own toes and complaining that things cost more than they did before. Yes, it does. The reason is that the loss of voluntary work entails, among other things, an increased need for income for teams and associations, and we have to do something about this, says Bråthen.

Volunteers are the hub of the municipalities

Mayor Wenche Huser Sund believes that the Grue tournament is very important for Grue municipality, and, like the tournament leader, identifies the proud enthusiasts as the key to football success.

- It is always the zealots who drive the local communities and the hamlets. Without volunteering, Grue and other municipalities will stop, says Sund, and adds that Grue has always had a strong spirit of hard work.

- We are good at volunteering because we want to contribute to a good society, because it is nice, because you are part of an important community, and because we like to help and be visible. And we do this for our district, says the mayor.

Wenche Huser Sund, who every year shows up as a kiosk guard during the Grue tournament, also pays great tribute to "general" Roy Bråthen and his "fantastic team with work irons around him".

Has become an identity marker

The Grue tournament is just one of many good examples of sunshine stories from sports in the Kongsvinger region. Kongsvinger Toppfotball is fighting for promotion to the elite series, Glåmdal Cycling Club has fostered a number of talents, Victory Dance has both world and European champions in its ranks, and NTG Kongsvinger offers education in major sports in the region such as football, handball, cycling, shooting and dance.

Tournament leader Roy Bråthen believes that a lot is happening in the region that does not reach existing residents or potential immigrants.

- There is a lot to be proud of, but the message does not reach. I think, for example, that the media in the region have a job to do to make what happens visible, because something happens every weekend in all hamlets, says Bråthen, who still has to admit that the Grue tournament has become an identity marker for the municipality.

- Before, I had to explain that the tournament is held XNUMX km from Kongsvinger. Now I can say that the tournament is at Kirkenær in Grue, he chuckles.

There were four three-lane courses during this year's tournament.
Planning the anniversary tournament

Next year, the Grue tournament - which by the way is Norway's second largest football tournament for children and young people - will be held for the 40th time. The planning of the anniversary tournament has already been going on for half a year.

- We have some plans, then we'll see what we can achieve, Bråthen says secretly, and uses the opportunity to say a big thank you to all 30 who are part of the main committee for the Grue tournament.

- Continuity is important. Most members have been involved for many years and know their work tasks, so we only need four meetings a year to carry out such an event. A large part of the credit for the success must go to the main committee, says the tournament leader.

Bråthen does not think the event can grow that much bigger, but sees that there are needs that are not covered today that can have major, positive ripple effects for the business community in the region next year.

- We need help with the accommodation! We rent an area with space for 600 caravans and tents, in addition to filling up schools and other accommodation nearby, but this is an opportunity for accommodation of all types throughout the region, he says, adding:

- Just get in touch. We are positive to anyone who wants to support an event that is solely about making children happy and creating local pride.

There was a lot of football fun among both players and spectators!