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“Well, the game is over, and as a Franco-Swedish person, I have this strange feeling of having both lost and won!” No matter the circumstances, Nils Dufau never loses his sense of humor or his quick wit. A few minutes after the French national soccer team’s victory over Sweden (3–0) on Tuesday, June 30, in the World Cup round of 16, the president of the Saint-Barth Association of Friends of Sweden (Asbas) spoke about his trip—along with the Chorale des Bons Chœurs and the president of the Saint-Barth Veterans Federation, Philippe Laduré—to visit their Scandinavian friends.
“The exchange trip went very well,” summarizes Nils Dufau. “The three Saint-Barth associations involved collaborate regularly, year after year, in harmony (in both senses of the word!) to foster the transatlantic friendship between Saint-Barth and Sweden, in keeping with the sister-city relationship between our two communities.”
The choir wows the audience
In Stockholm, the delegation was warmly welcomed by the St. Barthélemysällskapet association (“the Saint Barthélemy Society”), chaired by Roger Richter. The Bons Chœurs Choir gave a concert there in the king’s private chapel at Drottningholm, which was exceptionally opened to the public for this special occasion. “The concert was magnificent and a real success,” said Nils Dufau.
The delegation then traveled to Piteå, Saint-Barthélemy’s sister city, where the choir gave another concert, this time in Sweden’s oldest (1686) wooden church. “Before a packed house,” noted the president of Asbas. The mayor of Piteå, Patrik Lundström, as well as his predecessor, Peter Roslund, were in attendance.
Looking Ahead to the 50th Anniversary of the Sister City Relationship
“The Piteå Association of Friends of Saint-Barth, chaired by Katarina Ricken, put together a wonderful program for us to explore the city,” says Nils Dufau. “Its members were there every step of the way to accompany and assist us.” ” Regarding the sister city relationship, the president of ASBAS discussed with Patrik Lundström and Katarina Ricken the upcoming celebrations in 2028, which will mark the 50th anniversary of the bond between Piteå and Saint-Barth.
A Thought for the Mini-School
Nils Dufau also mentioned “a nod” to the Association of Friends of the Mini-School of Saint Barthélemy, which visited Piteå in early May with about fifteen children from the island (JSB 1666). “ As soon as they returned to Saint-Barth, the children made some beautiful thank-you cards for the Piteå Association of Friends of Saint-Barth,” explains Nils Dufau. “We handed them over personally to Katarina Ricken during a dinner hosted by the municipality of Piteå. ” A lovely gift that may console our Swedish friends following their national team’s defeat against France. Although, without a doubt, this sporting event had little impact on the mood of the hosts and visitors. On the other hand, one thing is certain: the visit by the delegation from Saint-Barthélemy has, once again—and if it were needed—further strengthened the ties that bind the island to Sweden.
