Highlights over the coming 12 months include staging cycling's UCI World Road Race Championships and the UEFA European Under-21 football championship.

In addition, Esbjerg will host the Capital One World Women's Curling Championships in March.

"The UCI World Road Race Championships and the UEFA European Under-21 Championship are no doubt the greatest sports events in Denmark so far, both in terms of media coverage, prestige and number of event visitors," said Lars Lundov (pictured), chief executive officer of Sport Event Denmark.

"In addition, Denmark is hosting several other large and medium-size world and European championships in 2011, which make it a year of great sports excitement.

"I am pleased to say that Sport Event Denmark strongly supports the many events that will provide a perfect platform for our ongoing branding of Denmark as a strong sports event destination.

"As Denmark's national event organisation, we ensure that the innovative and creative ideas of each and every event are distributed to future Danish sports event organisers.

Preparations have been long in the making for all the events, but in particular for the UCI World Road Race Championships and the UEFA European Under-21 Championship.

Jesper Worre, managing director of the Danish Cycling Federation (DCU) and event manager of the UCI World Road Race Championships, said: "Already in 2006 we won the rights to host the UCI World Road Race Championships 2011.

"Since then we have worked determinedly to stage this great event.

"UCI's nomination in 2007 of Copenhagen as the first UCI Bike City in the world gave us the opportunity to focus on cycling events in Denmark and brand it as a bike destination internationally.

"Throughout this process we have had a fruitful co-operation with, among others, Sport Event Denmark and Wonderful Copenhagen.

Christian Bordinggaard, tournament director of the UEFA European Under-21 Championship, said: "We are proud to host the UEFA European Under-21 Championship, which is the largest UEFA-event in 2011.

"The event is taking place in four Danish cities - Viborg, Herning, Aalborg and Aarhus - and they are all ready to take on the challenge of hosting this great football event, strongly supported by Sport Event Denmark and the Danish Football Association (DBU).

"On behalf of DBU, I am pleased to say that both players, officials and the audience are in for a great time."

Beyond the hosting of numerous major international sports events in 2011, it will be a year of bidding for several great and prestigious events.

Sport Event Denmark will continue working closely with the Danish sports federations and host cities to attract even more major international sports events.

Denmark will find out in the coming months if it has won the rights to host the A-World Ice Hockey Championships 2016, the World Badminton Championships 2013 and the ISAF Worlds 2014, the World Championships for all Olympic sailing classes.

Both domestically and globally, the Danish efforts in the field of bidding for and hosting major international sports events are acknowledged.

In the last few months of 2010 Denmark was awarded the rights to host the European Men's Handball Championships 2014, the FEI European Championships, jumping and dressage 2013, the European Men's Volleyball Championships 2013, the European Table Tennis Championships 2012 and the World Archery Championships 2015.


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