2021-12-17

H.S.H Prince Albert II unveils Et Purus No 1 – a monument created to honor the Swedish Professor Arne Ljungqvist and his lifelong crusade for clean sports and a doping-free society.

@janajulian /Jana Julian Photography

Monaco, December 2nd 2021

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.

Et Purus No 1 is a bronze monument by American sculptor Sassona Norton. A second Et Purus will be unveiled in Stockholm in 2022 and the monument is intended in a series of 20 for cities around the world.

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 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.

“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.”     
Professor Arne Ljungqvist

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. Et Purus No 2 is under production and will be ready for delivery to Stockholm in 2022. No 3 and No 4 are being offered to other cities around the world.

The name is inspired by the Olympic motto in Latin “Citius, Altius, Fortius” (Faster, Higher, Stronger). Et Purus means “and clean”. The hand with a raised index finger is the gesture of a winner. The golden ring on the raised finger represents a window into a clean inner body.

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.

Why 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.

High-resolution images and info:
https://www.mynewsdesk.com/arne-ljungqvist-anti-doping-foundation/pressreleases/hsh-prince-albert-ii-unveils-a-monument-created-to-honor-the-swedish-professor-arne-ljungqvist-and-his-lifelong-crusade-for-clean-sports-and-a-punkt-punkt-punkt-3150593

Bjorn Bertoft (Project Manager Et Purus)
bertoft@paljf.com
+46 70-0058 660

Kristina Wiberg, (PA to Professor Arne Ljungqvist and Coordinator Et Purus)
kristina.wiberg@paljf.com
+46 70-259 61 68