Allmänna Idrottsklubben

Allmänna Idrottsklubben (usually referred to as just AIK), currently located in Solna, just north of Stockholm, is one of the oldest, largest and most successful sports clubs in Sweden. AIK was founded in 1891 in central Stockholm, at the downtown address of Biblioteksgatan 8. The club's achievements include Swedish championship titles in a slew of sports: football, ice hockey, bandy, handball, floorball, bowling, badminton, athletics and many other sports as well as Wimbledon championships in tennis.

The founding

The idea to start an athletic association began when the brothers Isidor and Paul Behrens were taking a walk through Hantverkargatan, in central Stockholm. They were walking pretty fast; and noticed that there were two other youngsters behind them who also walked quickly. The strangers tried to walk pass the Behrens’, so they had to speed up to keep the lead; but the strangers did the same. Finally all of them started to run in what now looked like an improvised competition. When Isidor and Paul were far away from the unknown youngsters, Isidor said that they should start an athletic association and compete with others.

So the brothers gathered their friends, who were strongly athletic interested, and held a meeting at Behrens' on February 15 1891 on Biblioteksgatan 8, in central Stockholm. Isidor introduced his idea to everyone, and they liked it. Since the boys agreed that every thinkable sport should be practiced, they decided that “Allmänna Idrottsklubben” (The General Sports Club) would be a suitable name. The name also had other meanings: AIK allowed anybody to become member; and at this time many athletic clubs were limited for e.g. the military.

Media

In 1995 AIK as the first non-american sportsclub promoted a website. And as the first sportsclub in the Nordic AIK in 2004 began broadcasting radio with daily cast.

upporters

During the 1980s and 1990s the Black Army raged havoc around the country, creating headlines in national papers. As a result the Allmänna Supporterklubben was formed in 2000 as an alternative to Black Army. Allmänna Supporterklubben was renamed in 2002 to the much more AIK related "Smokinglirarna". Ultras Nord was formed in 2002, in 2004 Sol Invictus was formed these three fan club togheter with AIK-tifo form the so called, AIK Alliance.Outside Solna and Stockholm there are a lot of fan clubs as well, linking fans around the country together.
King Carl XVI Gustaf is named the protector of AIK and first honorary member. From time to time the royal family also visit home-games. Of which the Victoria boyfriend Daniel Westling is an active supporter.The financial Wallenberg family is also closely engaged with AIK as a club. They are on of the major share holders.

Active departments

* AIK Fotboll - football department
* AIK Fotboll Damer - women's football department
* AIK Hockey - ice hockey department
* AIK Innebandy - floorball department
* AIK Bandy - bandy department
* AIK Handboll - handball department
* AIK Bowling - bowling department
* AIK Golf - golf department

External links

* [http://www.aik.se/ AIK] - official site