Stockholm, Dec. 14(ChinaEuropeDialogue-Greenpost) — Monaco’s Prince Albert II recently unveiled a monument to commemorate 50 years of anti-doping campaign by Swedish Professor Arne Ljungqvist.
From left: Lord Sebastian Coe (President World Athletics), Bjorn Bertoft (Initiator of Et Purus), Sassona Norton (Sculptor of Et Purus), H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco, Professor Arne Ljungqvist and grand daughter Jessica Ljungqvist. Photo: janajulian.com
Et Purus No 1
The monument portraits the gesture of a winner, with a symbolic window into a clean inner body.
The world’s first Et Purus monument was unveiled on pier Jetée Lucciana in the marina of Monaco. The ceremony and lunch were hosted by H.S.H. Prince Albert II, member of the International Olympic Committee, and engaged in the anti-doping issues within sports together with Professor Arne Ljungqvist since the early nineties.
A video speech by H.M. Queen Silvia of Sweden crowned the lunch at the Yacht Club, and deepened the guests’ understanding of Professor Ljungqvist’s achievements and ambitions.
Professor Arne Ljungqvist
Professor Ljungqvist, still active at the age of 90, started his anti-doping career in 1971 in Sweden. He has since then been fighting against doping in sports from leading positions in the major sports organizations: World Athletics (former IAAF), the International Olympic Committee and World Anti-Doping Agency. Professor Ljungqvist is today working actively with doping as a public health issue via his own foundation, initiating the world’s first professorship in “doping and public health” together with the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden.
Professor Arne Ljungqvist
“To be honored on a day like this, together with dignitaries from the world of sports
and our society, as well as dear friends and family, is truly overwhelming. And yes,
it marks a 50 year long crusade, but more importantly it sheds light on our mission
to come ¬– the never ending work for pure health and clean sports.”
Et Purus
The bronze monument Et Purus is sculpted by Sassona Norton, a renowned sculptor with a fascination of hands – the subject of her monumental public artworks. The Et Purus project was created by Bjorn Bertoft in 2011 as a personal gift to Professor Ljungqvist. Sassona Norton has turned it into the monument Et Purus No 1 for Monaco. The monument was completed in 2021.
The name Et Purus is inspired by the Olympic motto in Latin “Citius, Altius, Fortius” (Faster, Higher, Stronger). Et Purus means “and clean”.
The sculpture Et Purus is intended to be placed in a series of cities around the world, with a mission to remind people about the conscious choice to stay pure, and away from doping.
Et Purus No 2 is under production and will be ready for delivery to Stockholm in 2022. Et Purus No 3 and No 4 are being offered to other cities around the world.
Why No 1 in Monaco?
Monaco is hosting the head quarters of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), today World Athletics, which was Professor Ljungqvist’s base for his international crusade against doping in sports since the early nineties.
The purpose of the Foundation is to follow Professor Arne Ljungqvist’s legacy in promoting scientific research on anti-doping matters and education for ”Pure Health” and ”Clean Sports”. The Foundation’s purpose is to support anti-doping work in national and international sport, as well as for the public.
The Foundation also supports preventive targeted efforts towards society, mainly oriented towards children and youth, through a world-class digital education platform along with other activities.