What started out as a crazy idea amongst a group of 
 young sports leaders developed into the world’s largest 
 and most international youth tournament. Gothia Cup has 
 since the start in 1975 been a very international 
 tournament with participation from more than 120 
 countries.
 It is important to make a tournament a lifelong memory. These are days of harmony and kinship for everyone. Previous participants have compared it to an Olympic ceremony and that's the idea. The atmosphere surrounding the opening of the Gothia Cup is electric, enough to make the hairs stand up on the back of your neck. It's a memory you'll smile fondly at for the rest of your life. Once the opening ceremony is over, with dancing, singing and entertainment in front of 40,000 spectators, it's time for the football tournament to kick off. 
 http://www.gothiacup.se/eng/section1.asp?res=low