AIK facts for kids

Allmänna Idrottsklubben, often called AIK, is a big sports club from Stockholm, Sweden. Its name means the Public Sports Club in English. AIK was started in 1891 and is one of the largest clubs in Scandinavia.

AIK has won many Swedish championships. They have won titles in sports like football, ice hockey, floorball, bandy, and handball. Famous tennis players like Sven Davidson also won major titles while representing AIK.

How AIK Was Started

The idea for AIK came from two brothers, Isidor and Paul Behrens. They were walking fast in Stockholm when they noticed two other young people behind them. Everyone started walking faster and faster, almost like a race!

Isidor thought it would be fun to start a sports club. He wanted to compete with others. So, on February 15, 1891, the brothers met with friends. They met at the Behrens' home in central Stockholm.

Everyone liked Isidor's idea. They decided the club should be open to everyone. They also wanted to play every sport they could think of. That's why they chose the name "Allmänna Idrottsklubben." It means "The General Sports Club."

AIK's Colors and Badge

An old lapel pin with the AIK logo from the 1970s.

AIK's main colors are black and yellow. White is also used as a secondary color.

The club's badge is dark blue, yellow, and gold. It was designed by Fritz Carlsson-Carling. He was a runner and football player for AIK. The badge has a special style called Art Nouveau. This style was popular around 1900.

Some people think the sun on the badge is from the Solna Municipality coat of arms. But this is not true. AIK was founded in Stockholm, long before Solna became a city.

Sports at AIK

AIK has many different sports sections. Here are some of them:

American Football

American football joined AIK in 2020. The club took over the Northside Bulls team. They play in the second division of Swedish American Football.

Athletics

Athletics was the first sport played by AIK members in 1891. The club's name partly comes from the old Swedish word for athletics, allmänn idrott. Athletics stopped in 1916 but came back in 2012.

Bandy

Bandy is a winter sport played on ice. It's a bit like ice hockey but with a ball instead of a puck.

Basketball

In 2016, AIK joined with the basketball club Solna Vikings. Solna Vikings were champions in 2003.

Bowling

Floorball

Floorball is a fast-paced indoor team sport. It's similar to hockey but played with lighter sticks and a plastic ball.

Football

Football is one of AIK's most popular sports. Both the men's and women's teams are very successful.

Golf

Golf became a part of AIK in 2004.

Handball

Handball is a team sport where players pass and throw a ball into the opponent's goal.

Ice Hockey

Ice hockey is another major sport for AIK. They have strong men's and women's teams.

Wrestling

AIK had a wrestling section as early as 1893. It is not known when it stopped. In 2017, some professional wrestlers wanted to start a wrestling section again.

Past Sports

AIK has had many other sports over the years. Some of these include:

• Badminton
• Cycling
• Curling
• Figure skating
• Orienteering
• Rowing
• Shooting
• Speed skating
• Skiing
• Swimming
• Table tennis
• Tennis
• Tug of war
• Weightlifting

AIK Online

On February 5, 1995, AIK made history. They were the first sports club outside of the USA to have their own website.

AIK Supporters

AIK supporters at a charity football game in 2013.

Fans of AIK are called AIK:are or gnagare. Gnagare means rodent. You can find AIK fans all over Stockholm and Sweden.

The biggest fan group is called Black Army – Stockholm. It started in 1981. Other fan groups include Smokinglirarna, Ultras Nord, and Sol Invictus. These groups work together as the AIK-Alliansen (the AIK Alliance).

The Swedish Royal Family has a special connection to AIK. In 1907, Crown Prince Gustaf Adolf became the club's first honorary member. Today, King Carl XVI Gustaf is the club's patron. Members of the royal family sometimes attend AIK matches. Prince Daniel is a well-known AIK fan.

Many famous people support AIK. These include songwriter Max Martin, DJ Sebastian Ingrosso, swimmer Sarah Sjöström, and Spotify founder Daniel Ek. The Wallenberg family, a very important family in Sweden, also supports AIK.

AIK's club song is "Å vi é AIK". It means "Oh we are AIK." It uses the tune from the 1971 song "The Last Farewell" by Roger Whittaker.

Rival Clubs

AIK has a big rivalry with Djurgårdens IF. This club was also started in Stockholm in 1891, just a few weeks after AIK. AIK also has a strong rivalry with Hammarby IF, another Stockholm team. Outside of Stockholm, AIK's main rivals are IFK Göteborg, Leksands IF, and Malmö FF.

External Links

• AIK – official website
• Black Army - Stockholm – AIK's official fan club

ca:AIK Solna pl:AIK Solna zh:AIK足球俱乐部

See also

In Spanish: Allmänna Idrottsklubben para niños