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The Hans Christian Andersen 2005 Foundation has teamed up with Disneyland Resort Paris to celebrate Hans Christian Andersen's 2005 bicentenary. The partnership will feature festivities both at Disneyland Resort Paris and in the official Hans Christian Andersen Bicentenary Celebration in Denmark during 2005.

The partnership is a natural continuation of links between The Walt Disney Company and Hans Christian Andersen, which go back over many years. Indeed Andersen was a great source of inspiration for Walt Disney himself, who visited Denmark on several occasions. Both Disneyland Resort Paris and the Hans Christian Andersen 2005 Foundation therefore attach special importance and pride to the partnership.

Disneyland Resort Paris is celebrating Hans Christian Andersen's life and achievements in the Kids Carnival featuring characters from Andersen's fairytale The Little Mermaid from 5 February to 13 March 2005.

February 5th 2005, Disneyland Resort Paris celebrated the kick off of the Hans Christian Andersen bicentenary year with a very special day dedicated to Europe's children, paying tribute to Hans Christian Andersen and the Little Mermaid, in the presence of the European press and a variety of celebrities and Hans Christian Andersen Ambassadors, who will read some of Andersen's best loved fairytales.

Disney's The Kids Carnival is also planned to be part of the Hans Christian Andersen Celebration in Denmark.
Moreover, Disneyland Resort Paris and the Hans Christian Andersen 2005 Foundation have agreed joint promotional on-line and media activities to publicise the partnership. President and CEO of Disneyland Resort Paris, André Lacroix, said of the agreement with the Hans Christian Andersen 2005 Foundation:

"European fairytales are at the heart of the fantasy and magic at Disneyland Resort Paris. Hans Christian Andersen was one of the most gifted fairytale writers of all time and it is important that the Resort pays tribute to a man that brought such pleasure to Europe and the world with his enchanting stories."  

Secretary General of the Hans Christian Andersen 2005 Foundation, Lars Seeberg, comments on the partnership with Disneyland Resort Paris:

"We are very happy for the agreement with Disneyland Resort Paris because it allows us to get in contact with a lot of people from all over the world. By this cooperation a lot of people will be aware of the celebration of the Hans Christian Andersen bicentenary and the activities that will take place to celebrate Andersen."

Yours sincerely,

Have PR & Kommunikation
Press coordinator, Hans Christian Andersen 2005
Tel.: +45 33 25 21 07
E-mail:

Anette Juhl Rasmussen, Have PR & Kommunikation
E-mail:

Marina Stuben, Disneyland Resort Paris, Press Relations
E-mail:

Facts on the collaboration
The initiative to the partnership between Disneyland Resort Paris and The Hans Christian Andersen 2005 Foundation was taken by the Danish lawyer Dan Shefet, who has been living in France since 1982. Dan Shefet is specialized in business interactions between Denmark and France and was in 2004 appointed Copenhagen Good Will Ambassador for his work in strengthening the bonds between Denmark and France within business as well as culture.

Facts about the Hans Christian Andersen 2005 Foundation
Hans Christian Andersen 2005 is to promote a wider appreciation and awareness of the life and work of Hans Christian Andersen in celebration of the bicentenary of his birth in 2005. This is to take place through numerous projects within film, TV, literature, theatre, opera, dance, multimedia, rhythmic and classical music, entertainment, visual art, museum exhibitions, education and tourism.
The stated aim is to promote a more complex image of the poet and storyteller among as many as possible in Denmark and internationally, children and adults alike. In 2005, Hans Christian Andersen will be celebrated with both large and small productions with international impact as well as small, local events.

The Hans Christian Andersen 2005 Foundation has been established by the Kingdom of Denmark represented by the Danish Ministry of Culture, the Danish Ministry of Economic and Business Affairs, the Municipality of Odense, the County of Funen and the Bikuben Foundation. Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II of Denmark is patron of the activities of the Hans Christian Andersen 2005 Foundation.

Facts about the Hans Christian Andersen Ambassadors
Hans Christian Andersen Ambassadors are celebrated artists, politicians, journalists, businesspeople and athletes from around the world, who have been asked by the Hans Christian Andersen 2005 Foundation to represent the bicentenary of the birth of Hans Christian Andersen.

All are highly respected within their field and are acclaimed and credited for their contributions to the world. The Hans Christian Andersen Ambassadors are to help generate awareness of the bicentenary celebrations in their home countries, either by their presence at different events related to the 2005 bicentenary or by conveying their personal view of Hans Christian Andersen to the world.
Hans Christian Andersen Ambassadors are also to represent the HCA-abc Foundation and to support its efforts in combating illiteracy worldwide.

Facts about Disneyland Resort Paris
Disneyland Resort Paris - celebrating  also the Happiest Celebration on Earth in 2005 - an unprecedented tribute to Disneyland's 50th Anniversary, taking place in all the Disney Theme Parks around the world.

Disneyland Resort Paris is Europe's most popular tourist destination, incorporating two theme parks, seven themed hotels and a range of dining and entertainment options. A visit to Disneyland Park offers guests the chance to discover the magic of Disney fantasy and stories in 3-D and meet their favourite Disney characters. The new theme park, Walt Disney Studios Park, offers an interactive, behind-the-scenes discovery of the very best in cinema, animation and television.  Seven themed hotels with a total capacity of 5,800 rooms enable guests to stay in the heart of the magic. The Resort also features the Disney Village entertainment and shopping complex and Golf Disneyland, a 27-hole golf course. 

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