Federations
Ängelholm, Sweden – A magnificent mural honoring Swedish volleyball superstar Isabelle `Bella` Haak was unveiled in her hometown of Ängelholm on Sunday, September 7. This world-class artwork, celebrating a truly world-class athlete, now adorns a prominent facade in central Ängelholm, strategically located near the city park and main street, Storgatan.
The mural is the creation of internationally acclaimed street artist Zabou, who commenced her work last Wednesday. The official inauguration took place on Sunday with a public ceremony. Zabou expressed her admiration for the subject, stating:
“I truly love this image of Isabelle. She projects confidence and looks towards the future, a beautiful expression to capture.”
This sentiment was reported by the regional newspaper Helsingborgs Dagblad. Isabelle Haak, currently in Italy preparing for the upcoming season with reigning champions Imoco Volley Conegliano, joined the ceremony via video link to share her sentiments on this extraordinary tribute.
Rolf Bernro, a board member of the Swedish Volleyball Federation, was present at the event. The mural was an initiative by Ängelholm Municipality, eager to honor their globally recognized athlete. The municipality described the artwork as:
“A public tribute to Isabelle Haak and a means of promoting art in public spaces. More profoundly, it symbolizes the spirit of dreaming big, working hard, and remaining humble, even with a spike reach exceeding 3.20 meters – a powerful emblem for women`s sports in Ängelholm.”
This form of tribute is unprecedented; no other Swedish volleyball player has ever received such an honor from their hometown. It underscores the growing prominence, recognition, and respect for volleyball and its athletes within Sweden. Beyond her status as a global volleyball sensation, `Bella` serves as an outstanding ambassador for both the sport and Ängelholm, a city with a rich volleyball tradition fostered by the local club EVS (Engelholms VS), a heritage the municipality actively promotes.
This mural is the latest testament to that dedication. Another significant event was the CEV European Golden League Final Four, successfully hosted at Ängelholm’s impressive Catena Arena on June 28-29. This collaborative effort by the municipality, Visit Skåne, Backahills Sport & Evenemang, EVS, and the Swedish Volleyball Federation transformed into a vibrant volleyball festival, attracting record crowds for the Swedish women’s national team across two days. The national team also recently achieved 19th place in their inaugural FIVB Women’s Volleyball World Championship appearance and is set to compete in a historic EuroVolley on home soil in Gothenburg next year.
Finley Blackwood