Pinball Clemons Professional football career when did pinball start football? In 1987, Clemons was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. what was his positon on that team Clemons played in eight games, predominantly as a punt returner, did his team win games a lot or championships? In his first game with the Argonauts, Clemons was named the player of the game. what were his stats throughout his career? In 1990, Clemons received the CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award after setting a single season record for all-purpose yards (3,300 did he get any awards or special recognition? The following year, Clemons won his very first football championship as his Argonauts defeated the Calgary Stampeders to win the Grey Cup.
which year was that?
Which year did Pinball Clemons win his first football championship?
In 1987, Clemons was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. During the 1987 NFL season, Clemons played in eight games, predominantly as a punt returner, where he collected 19 returns for 162 yards.  When Clemons first joined the Toronto Argonauts in 1989, guest running backs coach Tom Cudney nicknamed him "Pinball" because of his running style. His diminutive size and extraordinary balance allowed him to bounce between defensive players much like a pinball inside a pinball machine. During home games, The Who song "Pinball Wizard" would play on the P.A. each time Clemons was involved in a great play. In his first game with the Argonauts, Clemons was named the player of the game. In 1990, Clemons received the CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award after setting a single season record for all-purpose yards (3,300). The following year, Clemons won his very first football championship as his Argonauts defeated the Calgary Stampeders to win the Grey Cup. Clemons went on to win two more Grey Cups as a player when Doug Flutie led Argonauts won back-to-back titles during the 1996 & 1997 seasons. In 1997, Clemons surpassed his own single season all-purpose yards record from 1990 by recording 3,840 all-purpose yards. This mark stood until 2012, when it was broken by Chad Owens. On September 15, 2000, Clemons played his last ever game as an Argonaut. During his 12-year playing career with the Argonauts he set many team records including career pass receptions (682), punt return yards (6,025), punt returns (610), punt return touchdowns (8), kickoff return yards (6,349), and kickoff returns (300). He also set single season single-season punt return yards (1,070 in 1997), punt returns (111 in 1997), and kickoff returns (49 in 1997). Clemons also amassed a career 25,438 combined yards during the regular season, a CFL record.  In 2008, Clemons was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame. CANNOTANSWER
The following year,
Michael Lutrell "Pinball" Clemons  (born January 15, 1965) is an American-Canadian sports executive and former running back and return specialist who serves as general manager for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League (CFL). Clemons played with the Argonauts for twelve seasons where he was a two-time All-Star and a three-time Grey Cup Champion, and twice served as their head coach before becoming an administrator, since winning three more Grey Cups. His no. 31 jersey is one of only four that have been retired by the Argonauts. He is one of the most famous former Argos players, and is also one of the most popular professional athletes in the history of Toronto. Clemons has stated that he feels CFL football is the best football in the world. Clemons is 5 ft 6 in (167 cm) tall and weighs 170 pounds (77 kg).

Early life
Clemons was born and raised in Dunedin, Florida to an 18-year-old single mother, Anna Marie Bryant, who had just graduated from a segregated high school. His father, Willie Clemons, lived an hour and a half away from them while finishing up his university education and later became a school teacher.

Clemons started playing football at age 8 with the Dunedin Golden Eagles, a youth organization co-ordinated by the Police Athletic League.

Clemons and his mother lived in public housing across the street from the city's sewer plant until he was 14 years old. At this point in Clemons' life, his mother married his stepfather and would also become the first African-American to get an administrative job for the City of Dunedin.

Clemons's mother was also a heavy influence in him becoming a devout Christian as she was also a clerk at a Baptist church in Dunedin. Clemons and his family currently attend the Meeting House in Oakville, Ontario.

Clemons later formed a relationship with his father, Willie, during his college years. Even then, the relationship between him and his father was more like a nephew to an uncle, being limited to visits during his family vacations down in Florida and regular phone calls. Willie was also invited to the 2003 CFL Eastern Division semi-final game his son was coaching in Toronto vs. the B.C. Lions, marking the first time his father had actually seen him in any capacity with the Argonauts. Shortly afterwards, his father died.

College career
Clemons graduated with a degree in economics from the College of William & Mary where he played running back and return specialist on the football team, as well as playing varsity soccer for a year. In his four-year college football career, he compiled 4,778 all-purpose yards and was named a Division I-AA all-American.

Professional football career
In 1987, Clemons was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. During the 1987 NFL season, Clemons played in eight games, predominantly as a punt returner, where he collected 19 returns for 162 yards.

When Clemons first joined the Toronto Argonauts in 1989, guest running backs coach Tom Cudney nicknamed him "Pinball" because of his running style. His diminutive size and extraordinary balance allowed him to bounce between defensive players much like a pinball inside a pinball machine. During home games, The Who song "Pinball Wizard" would play on the P.A. each time Clemons was involved in a great play. In his first game with the Argonauts, Clemons was named the player of the game. In 1990, Clemons received the CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award after setting a single season record for all-purpose yards (3,300). The following year, Clemons won his very first football championship as his Argonauts defeated the Calgary Stampeders to win the Grey Cup. Clemons went on to win two more Grey Cups as a player when Doug Flutie led Argonauts won back-to-back titles during the 1996 & 1997 seasons. In 1997, Clemons surpassed his own single season all-purpose yards record from 1990 by recording 3,840 all-purpose yards. This mark stood until 2012, when it was broken by Chad Owens. On September 15, 2000, Clemons played his last ever game as an Argonaut. During his 12-year playing career with the Argonauts he set many team records including career pass receptions (682), punt return yards (6,025), punt returns (610), punt return touchdowns (8), kickoff return yards (6,349), and kickoff returns (300). He also set single season single-season punt return yards (1,070 in 1997), punt returns (111 in 1997), and kickoff returns (49 in 1997). Clemons also amassed a career 25,438 combined yards during the regular season, a CFL record.

In 2008, Clemons was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame. And in 2009, Clemons was also inducted into the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame.

Coaching career 
Upon ending his playing career, Clemons became interim head coach of the Toronto Argonauts in 2000, replacing John Huard, who resigned after compiling a 1–6–1 record. When offered the head coaching job by team general manager J. I. Albrecht, Clemons was reluctant to accept it, wanting to spend more time with his family. According to Clemons, "it was an awkward situation. After saying no, they said do us the favour of going home and discussing it with your family. The burden was that this team, this organization, had given our family so much that Canada was going to be our home. The Argos had everything to do with my family becoming a part of this country. Because of all I had been given I decided it was my time to reciprocate." As interim head coach, Clemons coached the Argos to 6 wins out of their remaining 8 games.  He had the interim tag removed from his title at the end of the season.  In November 2001, he was promoted to President of the Argonauts and relinquished his role as head coach in the process to Gary Etcheverry.

When Etcheverry was fired as head coach on September 17, 2002, Clemons returned as head coach on an interim basis with 6 games remaining in the 2002 CFL season. Clemons was officially given the head coaching job again on December 17, 2002, while also relinquishing his role as team president.  He remained the head coach until 2007.  Clemons was nominated for the Annis Stukus Trophy every year from 2002 to 2007, coming up short each time.

In the 2004 CFL season, Clemons was the first black head coach to ever appear in a Grey Cup game.  He became the first black head coach to win a Grey Cup championship during that same Grey Cup game, while also being the second black coach to ever guide his team to a pro football championship in North America. (Darren Arbet of the San Jose SaberCats was the first to do so in 2002 with an ArenaBowl XVI victory.) Clemons downplayed this milestone achievement, saying, "To tell you the truth, I don't know what it means to be the first Black coach in the (Grey) Cup and to win it. I know that I can't do anything by myself, and on my own strength I'm very little good. Anything I accomplish has to be with the aid of individuals, and this team became like a family and is a family, it had very little to do with the colour of my skin".

Clemons has the second most head coaching wins in Argonauts history with 67. (Bob O'Billovich is first with 89.) Clemons' record is 67–54–1 in the regular season over parts of seven seasons, with a 6–5 playoff record (including 1–0 in his lone Grey Cup appearance). As a coach, his nickname was often shortened to "Pinner" by his players.  After retiring as head coach, he became the team's chief executive officer in 2008.

Sports administrator 
From November 2001 to September 2002, Clemons served as the Toronto Argonauts President. He ended his tenure as President to resume his second stint as the team's head coach. In 2003, Clemons shared both responsibilities as the team's head coach & general manager. Though he was the de facto GM of the Argonauts as a result of an administrative shake up of the team, much of the player roster management duties were deferred to Greg Mohns, the team's director of football operations & player personnel. Clemons would relinquish his GM title to Adam Rita at the end of the season. On December 4, 2007, Clemons stepped down as head coach of the Argonauts to become their new Chief Executive Officer. At the end of the 2008 Toronto Argonauts season, Clemons announced that he would no longer act in the day-to-day business of the organization and on May 6, 2009, Bob Nicholson was announced as the new president and chief executive officer of the Argonauts. On that same day, Clemons was appointed the Vice-Chair of the team. In his new role, Clemons advises the president & C.E.O. on key sales and corporate partner programs, significant community initiatives, and brand and media relations. On October 8, 2019, Clemons was named as the new general manager of the team, replacing Jim Popp who was relieved of his GM duties with 4 games remaining in the 2019 Toronto Argonauts season. Clemons would also work closely with John Murphy, the team's vice president of player personnel, in assembling the roster.

Personal life
Clemons is also a motivational speaker, making frequent public appearances throughout the community. He is also a partner of the children's brand Simply Kids, a line of diapers, baby food and healthcare products found in supermarkets across Canada and the United States.

Currently, Clemons resides in Oakville, Ontario with his wife, Diane (a native Floridian), and three daughters (who were all born in Canada). His oldest daughter, Rachel, is 22, his middle daughter Raven is 19, and his youngest daughter Rylie is now 17. Clemons has described himself (borrowing a quote from C.D. Howe) as an "American by birth but Canadian by choice". In 2000, Clemons became a permanent resident of Canada. It had once been suggested that Clemons had remained an American citizen to rebuff any calls for him to run for political office, such as for mayor of Toronto. Clemons was the subject of Pinball: The Making of a Canadian Hero () a biography written by Perry Lefko published in 2006.

In April 2007, he visited Calderstone Middle School in Brampton to help start a reading program.

On August 21, 2007, Clemons founded the "Michael 'Pinball' Clemons Foundation" which is dedicated to helping disadvantaged youth.

On March 23, 2009, Clemons appeared on the CTV News @ 6 as a celebrity guest host to do the weather in celebration of Dave Devall's retirement.
He is currently working with Marc Kielburger and Craig Kielburger, founders of Free the Children, in an initiative to build schools and clean water systems in Africa.

On November 14, 2012, Clemons visited and gave a speech about life topics in Markham, Ontario for York Regional District School Board's annual QUEST Forum to promote Student Achievement and Well-Being.

On February 28, 2014, Clemons visited the Scouts Canada National Leadership summit to speak about teamwork and working as one team to kick off the new program and strategic plan announcement.

On April 28, 2015, Clemons officially became a naturalized citizen of Canada.

Clemons was recognized on February 10, 2017 by the College of William and Mary, his alma mater, with an honorary degree during Charter Day ceremonies, where he also was principal speaker.

From February 10–26, 2017, Clemons partnered with Global Pet Foods and Air Miles for the "Show Us Your Heart" event. Its goal is to raise money for homeless pets, rescue groups, and animal shelters across Canada through donations made at Global Pet Food stores.

Achievements 
 CFL record for most all-purpose yards, All-Time Regular Season: 25,396 (1989–2000)
 Recorded over 5,000 career yards in rushing (5,232), pass receptions (7,015), kickoff returns (6,349), and punt returns (6,025)
 Argonauts team records for career pass receptions (682), punt return yards (6,025), punt returns (610), punt return touchdowns (8), kickoff return yards (6,349), and kickoff returns (300)
 Argonauts team records for single-season punt return yards (1,070 in 1997), punt returns (111 in 1997), and kickoff returns (49 in 1997)
 Argonauts team record for single-game kickoff returns (8) on August 21, 1990, versus Edmonton Eskimos
 CFL most outstanding player (1990)
 Three-time Grey Cup champion as a player (1991, 1996, 1997)
 One-time Grey Cup champion as a head coach (2004)
 Two-time Grey Cup champion as a Vice chairman (2012, 2017)
 First black head coach to reach & win a Grey Cup championship (2004)
 Two-time CFL All-Star (1990, 1997)
 Two-time Tom Pate Award winner (1993, 1996)
1995 John Candy Memorial Award
 One-time Eastern Division Most Outstanding Player Trophy winner (1990)
 Four-time Eastern Division All-Star (1990, 1993, 1994, 1997)
 Voted one of the CFL's Top 50 players (#31) of the league's modern era by Canadian sports network TSN.
 Was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 2008.
 Was inducted into the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame in 2009.
 Retired number by the Toronto Argonauts (#31)

Honours
 He was appointed as a Member of the Order of Ontario in 2001, giving Him the Post Nominal Letters "O.Ont" for Life.  In 2011, he was one of the recipients of the Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Awards presented by Canadian Immigrant Magazine.

Honorary Degrees
Michael "Pinball" Clemons has received honorary degrees from several universities. These include:

Legacy
In 2012 in honour of the 100th Grey Cup, Canada Post used his image on a series of commemorative postage stamps. The image was also used on presentation posters and other materials to promote the Grey Cup game and other celebrations associated with the centennial.

CFL coaching record

CFL GM record

Coaching tree
Assistants under Clemons that became NFL, CFL, or NCAA head coaches:

 Aaron Best: Eastern Washington (2017–present)

References

Further reading 

 Q & A with Pinball Clemons for Now Magazine (July 12–18, 2007)
 Interview with The Good Point (Oct. 7, 2008)
 Liberal senator likes Clemons' 'politics of hope' (Toronto Star Column, Oct. 26, 2008)

External links

 Michael "Pinball" Clemons Foundation website
 Toronto Argonauts profile
 
 CFL.ca stats
 CFLapedia bio
 DatabaseFootball.com stats

1965 births
Living people
African-American Christians
African-American coaches of Canadian football
African-American players of Canadian football
African-American sports executives and administrators
American sports executives and administrators
American football running backs
American emigrants to Canada 
American motivational speakers
American Protestants
Black Canadian players of Canadian football
Canadian Protestants
Canadian people of African-American descent
Canadian Football Hall of Fame inductees
Canadian Football League Most Outstanding Player Award winners
Canadian football return specialists
Canadian football running backs
Canadian motivational speakers
Dunedin High School alumni
Kansas City Chiefs players
Members of the Order of Ontario
Naturalized citizens of Canada
People from Dunedin, Florida
Players of American football from Florida
Sportspeople from Pinellas County, Florida
Sportspeople from Oakville, Ontario
Toronto Argonauts coaches
Toronto Argonauts general managers
Toronto Argonauts players
Toronto Argonauts team presidents
William & Mary Tribe football players
William & Mary Tribe men's soccer players
Association footballers not categorized by position
Association football players not categorized by nationality
The Zimmer tower () is a tower in Lier, Belgium, also known as the Cornelius tower, that was originally a keep of Lier's 14th-century city fortifications. In 1930, astronomer and clockmaker Louis Zimmer (1888–1970) built the Jubilee (or Centenary) Clock, which is displayed on the front of the tower, and consists of 12 clocks encircling a central one with 57 dials. These clocks showed time on all continents, phases of the moons, times of tides and many other periodic phenomena.

In 1980 the tower became a state-protected monument.

Tower building

The original tower was built no later than 1425, though the precise date of construction is unknown. In 1812 the tower was sold by the municipal authorities, but after World War I, they repurchased it and slated it for demolition. In 1930 astronomer and clockmaker Louis Zimmer donated a complex clock which was installed in the old tower, which had to be substantially reconstructed for this. In honor of the astronomer the structure was renamed the Zimmer tower.

In 1960 a pavilion for the new clock was built next to the tower to present Zimmer's masterpiece the wonder-clock. (). These wonder-clocks were prepared for the 1935 world exhibition in Brussels; later they were demonstrated in the US. Around one of these dials moves the slowest pointer in the world – its complete revolution will take 25800 years, which corresponds to the period of the precession of the Earth's axis. Subsequently, Zimmer attached to the clocks a mechanical planetarium. The wonder-clocks impressed Albert Einstein, who congratulated Zimmer on the creation of these unusual mechanisms.

On the small square at the foot of the tower an exhibition of the Solar System was arranged with the aid of metallic circles and the rings (circles designate the Sun and planets, rings the orbits of planets). These also show asteroids Felix (№ 1664) and Zimmer (№ 3064), which were named after Felix Timmermans and Louis Zimmer when discovered in 1929, and 1984. In 1980 the tower obtained the status of state protected monument. Now the Zimmer tower and pavilion with the wonder-clocks is a museum.

Description of the dials 

The Centenary clock has one large dial in the centre, measuring  in diameter. This dial shows the exact time
(UTC+1; during daylight saving time UTC+2 is used instead). The twelve dials around the centre dial show the following (starting from the dial in the 2 o'clock position and going clockwise): the equation of time, the zodiac, the solar cycle and the dominical letter, the week, the globe, the months, the calendar dates, the seasons, the tides, the age of the moon, the phases of the moon and the metonic cycle and the epact.

The equation of time 

This dial shows the difference in minutes between the apparent solar time and the mean solar time.
Positive values indicate that the apparent solar time is ahead (fast) of the mean solar time, with maxima around 3 November and 15 May.
Negative values indicate that the apparent solar time is behind (slow) of the mean solar time, with a maximum lag around 12 February and 27 July.

The difference is zero four times a year; around 16 April 15 June, 1 September and 25 December.

The zodiac 

Every year the sun describes an imaginary circle around the earth, called the zodiac. The zodiac is divided in twelve segments, each denoted by a sign associated with a constellation.
This dial shows the zodiac signs. The signs of spring; Ram, Bull and Twins.  The signs of the summer; Crab, Lion and Virgin.  The signs of the fall; Balance, Scorpion and Bowman. The signs of winter; Capricorn, Water-bearer and Fishes. One revolution of this dial takes a year.

The solar cycle and the dominical letter 

The solar cycle is a 28-year cycle. After the 28 years, dates reappear in the same order.
On the inner circle, the hand indicates the current year of the solar cycle. On the outer circle, the hand shows the corresponding dominical letter. The dominical letter gives the day upon which the first Sunday of the year falls. The letter A means that the first Sunday of the year will fall on 1 January. The letter E for example, indicates that the first Sunday will be on 5 January.
Leap years have two dominical letters because the dominical letter changes end February. The first letter covers January and February, the second covers March to December. For leap years, the outer circle will show two dominical letters. The cycle of the dominical letters for common years is twice every 11 years and once every 6 years, while for leap years is once every 28 years. 2008 (leap year starting on Tuesday) is the year 1 of the cycle, while 2007 (common year starting on Monday) is the year 28 of the cycle. From 1980 to 2007, respectively, there were:

 1980 was a leap year starting on Tuesday, those dominical letters hence were FE, was the year 1 of the cycle.
 1981 was a common year starting on Thursday, that dominical letter hence was D, was the year 2 of the cycle.
 1982 was a common year starting on Friday, that dominical letter hence was C, was the year 3 of the cycle.
 1983 was a common year starting on Saturday, that dominical letter hence was B, was the year 4 of the cycle.
 1984 was a leap year starting on Sunday, those dominical letters hence were AG, was the year 5 of the cycle.
 1985 was a common year starting on Tuesday, that dominical letter hence was F, was the year 6 of the cycle.
 1986 was a common year starting on Wednesday, that dominical letter hence was E, was the year 7 of the cycle.
 1987 was a common year starting on Thursday, that dominical letter hence was D, was the year 8 of the cycle.
 1988 was a leap year starting on Friday, those dominical letters hence were CB, was the year 9 of the cycle.
 1989 was a common year starting on Sunday, that dominical letter hence was A, was the year 10 of the cycle.
 1990 was a common year starting on Monday, that dominical letter hence was G, was the year 11 of the cycle.
 1991 was a common year starting on Tuesday, that dominical letter hence was F, was the year 12 of the cycle.
 1992 was a leap year starting on Wednesday, those dominical letters hence were ED, was the year 13 of the cycle.
 1993 was a common year starting on Friday, that dominical letter hence was C, was the year 14 of the cycle.
 1994 was a common year starting on Saturday, that dominical letter hence was B, was the year 15 of the cycle.
 1995 was a common year starting on Sunday, that dominical letter hence was A, was the year 16 of the cycle.
 1996 was a leap year starting on Monday, those dominical letters hence were GF, was the year 17 of the cycle.
 1997 was a common year starting on Wednesday, that dominical letter hence was E, was the year 18 of the cycle.
 1998 was a common year starting on Thursday, that dominical letter hence was D, was the year 19 of the cycle.
 1999 was a common year starting on Friday, that dominical letter hence was C, was the year 20 of the cycle.
 2000 was a leap year starting on Saturday, those dominical letters hence were BA, was the year 21 of the cycle.
 2001 was a common year starting on Monday, that dominical letter hence was G, was the year 22 of the cycle.
 2002 was a common year starting on Tuesday, that dominical letter hence was F, was the year 23 of the cycle.
 2003 was a common year starting on Wednesday, that dominical letter hence was E, was the year 24 of the cycle.
 2004 was a leap year starting on Thursday, those dominical letters hence were DC, was the year 25 of the cycle.
 2005 was a common year starting on Saturday, that dominical letter hence was B, was the year 26 of the cycle.
 2006 was a common year starting on Sunday, that dominical letter hence was A, was the year 27 of the cycle.
 2007 was a common year starting on Monday, that dominical letter hence was G, was the year 28 and final year of the cycle.

The week 

This dial marks the seven days of the week, represented by ancient gods and their symbol.

The globe 

The rotation of the Earth causes day and night. It is day on the part of the globe that is currently visible.
The places on earth that pass under the fixed meridian (the golden belt running from the North Pole to the South Pole) have noon at the same time. The globe rotates once every 24 hours.

The months 

This dial depicts the twelve months. The hand shows the current month.
One revolution takes a year.

The calendar dates 

This dial shows the exact date. The numbering goes to 31, the maximum number of days in a month. In months that have fewer days (28, 29 or 30), the hand automatically moves forward to the first day of the following month. The months with 31 days are January, March, May, July, August, October and December, the months with 30 days are April, June, September and November. February is the only month with less than 30 days. February has only 28 days (29 days in leap years).

The seasons 

The dial shows four drawings by Felix Timmermans, representing the four seasons. Spring is represented by a child with flowers (upper left). The duration of the season is indicated with Arabic numerals for the days and Roman numerals for the hours. Spring lasts for 92 days and 11 hours. The summer is represented by a mower and lasts 93 days and 8 hours. Autumn is symbolised by a cornucopia and lasts 89 days and 10 hours. Winter is represented by an old lady reading by the fireside. The duration of the winter is exactly 90 days.

On the dividing lines between the drawings is a small globe indicating the part of the globe that is being lit by the Sun at the start of the season. The differences in illumination during the year are caused by the Earth's axial tilt. The hand completes one revolution a year and shows the current season.

The tides 

The dial indicates the tides at Lier, Belgium. The biggest ship and the flag without the streamer indicate high water. When the streamer is above the flag it is flood. It is ebb when the streamer is below the flag. At Lier, the water is rising for 3 hours and 53 minutes and falling in the other hours. This dial completes almost two revolutions a day.

The age of the moon 

The time between two full moons is about 29 days, 12 hours, 44 minutes. This is the time it takes the Moon to make one orbit around the Earth. The dial shows how many days passed since last new moon, indicating the day in the cycle of the moon and showing on the inner circumference the phases of New Moon (, N.M.), First Quarter (, E.K.), Full Moon (, V.M.) and Last Quarter (, L.K.).

The phases of the moon 

This globe, colored half-gold and half-blue with golden stars, shows the phases of the moon. The golden part represents the visible part of the Moon.

The metonic cycle and the epact 

The hand on this dial revolves once in 19 years. After this period, the different phases of the moon will fall again on the same dates in the year. The Greek astronomer Meton proved this in 432 BC. On the outer ring, the hand points to the golden number, or the number of the current year in the metonic cycle. The inner ring shows the epact, which is the age of the moon on the first of January of the current year.

References 

Ceulemans, Luk (1980). Louis Zimmer. vzw Gilde "Heren van Lier"

Zimmertorencomité (1982). Stad Lier, zimmertoren en wonderklok

External links 

 Official Website Zimmertower
  The Zimmer Tower
 Louis Zimmer and the Centenary Clock, at Famous Belgians

Clock towers
Towers in Belgium
Astronomical clocks
Clocks in Belgium
Lier, Belgium Musikhjälpen (; "Music Aid") is the Swedish version of the Dutch Serious Request radio and television campaign. The show is an appeal for money which each year helps a certain cause. Three radio/television personalities are locked inside a glass house for 144 hours, and they broadcast live on Swedish public service radio network Sveriges Radio and on public services television through SVT. People send text messages requesting a song, with each text costing 50, 100, 200, or 500 Swedish kronor. In later year an Musikhjälpen-app is used for requesting songs as well.

Musikhjälpen 2008

Theme – "67 miljoner flyktingar behöver din hjälp" ("67 million refugees need your help")
In 2008, Sweden held the event for the first time, with SVT Sveriges Radio and Radiohjälpen as main organizers. Each year since the show has been held and broadcast as Musikhjälpen.

The 2008 glass house stood at Gustaf Adolfs torg in Malmö from 13 to 19 December. The show was broadcast around the clock at Sveriges Radio P3 and Din gata 100,6, and also on SVT2 at certain schedules during the day. It was hosted by the radio presenters Kitty Jutbring, Henrik Torehammar and Ehsan Noroozi. A daily half-hour highlights show Musikhjälpen: Extra was hosted by Fredrik Ekelund and Charlotte Lundgren. Singer Jason Diakité (also known by his stage name Timbuktu) was a reporter, and traveled a month before Musikhjälpen to Congo, where he met refugees and assisted the organization on the ground.

In its first year, Musikhjälpen gained 3,016,247 SEK in donations.

Musikhjälpen 2009 

Theme – "Din musik stoppar malaria" ("Your music stops malaria")
In 2009, the Musikhjälpen glass house stood at Avenyn in Gothenburg between 14–20 December. The theme for this year was malaria and as in 2008 the show was broadcast live around the clock at Sveriges Radio P3 and on SVT Play at certain times. The hosts were radio presenters Ametist Azordegan, Christer Lundberg and rapper Jason Diakité (aka Timbuktu), who all got locked into the glass house by singer Alice Cooper. Traveling reporters this year were Ehsan Noroozi and Kitty Jutbring. The Musikhjälpen Extra host was Mela Tesfazion.

5,748,442 SEK was raised this year, approximately 2,300,000 more than in 2008.

On 7 January 2010, it was revealed that the project had been defrauded during twenty minutes on the night of 19–20 December. The number shown in the television screens which showed how to wish for songs and give money had been changed. No money was ever given to the fake number and no arrests were ever made.

Musikhjälpen 2010
Theme – "Barn är inte till salu" ("Children are not for sale")
In 2010, the glass house was located in Malmö for the second time in 3 years. Jason Diakité (Timbuktu) hosted again alongside morning-radio host Martina Thun and comedian Nour El-Refai. Ametist Azordegan and Christer Lundberg were traveling reporters this year and theme was the trafficking of children. As before, the show was broadcast on Sveriges Radio P3 and SVT Play, and at times on SVT during 13–19 December.

By 18 December 2010, the previous year's record total had already been broken; when the show was over 12,236,417 SEK had been collected to help the victims of trafficking.

Musikhjälpen 2011 

Theme – "Alla flickor har rätt att gå i skolan" ("All girls have the right to go to school")
In 2011, the glass house was located in Gothenburg for a second time, at the Gustaf Adolfs torg square between 12–18 December. For the third time in a row, rapper Jason Diakité hosted the show, along with TV-personality Gina Dirawi and radio presenter Kodjo Akolor. The theme for this year was that all girls should have the right to get an education. The travelling reporters for this year were comedian Klara Zimmergren and artist Daniel Adams-Ray, who visited Ethiopia.

264 auctions were held which raised 2.1 million SEK. Among the auctioned items was Michael Jackson's platinum record for his Thriller.

A total of 18,104,362 SEK was raised.

Musikhjälpen 2012
Theme – "Barnen i slummen har rätt till rent vatten" ("Slum children have the right to clean water")
Malmö again hosted the event, from 10 to 16 December, for the third time. For the second year in a row Jason Diakité (Timbuktu), Kodjo Akolor and Gina Dirawi were the hosts of the Musikhjälpen and were locked inside the glass house. This became Timbuktu's fourth year as host of the show.

A total of 135,000 song-requests were registered, and 23,301,823 SEK was raised, again a steady increase to the previous year.

Filip and Fredrik auctioned themselves off as receptionists, which raised 221,100 SEK.

Musikhjälpen 2013 

Theme – "Alla tjejer har rätt att överleva sin graviditet" ("All girls have the right to survive a pregnancy")
Musikhjälpen was held in Gothenburg between 9–15 December 2013. This was the third time that Gothenburg had been the host city of Musikhjälpen. The show was broadcast from Gustaf Adolfs torg and this year the money was used to help pregnant girls in poorer countries.

The show's hosts were Kodjo Akolor for the third time, artist Sarah Dawn Finer and radio presenter Emma Knyckare.

For the first time since 2009, Musikhjälpen Extra was a daily show; it was hosted by Sofia Rågenklint. This year's travelling reporters were Bianca Kronlöf and Robin Olin, who went to Bangladesh to give daily live reports from the country. It was the first time that the traveling reporters were at the foreign location live throughout Musikhjälpen's broadcast.

28,426,046 SEK was raised.

Musikhjälpen 2014
Theme – "Hjälp oss stoppa spridningen av HIV" ("Help us to stop the spread of HIV")
In an after-Musikhjälpen programme for the 2013 show on 29 May 2014 Sveriges Radio revealed that there would be a 2014 edition of the aid show. For the first time Musikhjälpen was held in Uppsala. The glass house stood at Stora torget between 8 and 14 December.

Hosts for this year were the artist Linnea Henriksson, Swedish rapper Petter and radio presenter Kodjo Akolor. Travelling reporter for this edition was the blog- & TV-personality William Spetz, and destination for this year's travel was Mozambique.

Musikhjälpen 2015 
Theme – "Ingen ska behöva fly undan klimatet" ("No one should have to flee the climate")
Musikhjälpen was broadcast in 2015 for the first time from Linköping between 13 and 19 December. The theme for this year was "No one should have to flee the climate", with focus on climate related catastrophe which has forced million of people to flee. This year Kodjo Akolor, Gina Dirawi and Linnea Henriksson presented the show during the live radio and television broadcasts which was on SVT and Sveriges Radio. Samir Badran would have been the "publics ambassador", but decided to withdraw the same day as the broadcasts was about to start because of an Instagram post. The day after it was announced that Farah Erichsén and Oscar Zia became new ambassadors. The travelling reporter for this year was  Clara Henry, who reported from the Philippines.

The total sum of money raised was 31,105,000 (SEK) which was a new record. The single thing that brought in the most money was a bidding on a "taco evening" along with singer Miriam Bryant which gave 103,025 (SEK) to the cause.

Musikhjälpen 2016 

Theme – "Barn i krig har rätt att gå i skolan" ("Children in war have the right to go to school")
Musikhjälpen was broadcast in 2016 for the first time from Örebro between 12 and 18 December. The hosts were Kodjo Akolor, musicians Pelle "Howlin' Pelle" Almqvist from The Hives  and Josefine "Little Jinder" Jinder. This year's public ambassadors was Farah Abadi and Oscar Zia. Travelling reporter for this edition was Molly Nutley who travelled to Africa to meet people that had fled the wars. 49,003,745 SEK was raised this year which was a new record.

Musikhjälpen 2017
Theme – "Barn är inte till salu" ("Children are not for sale")
The tenth Musikhjälpen was hosted at Rådhustorget in Umeå. The three presenters for this year was Farah Abadi, Kalle Zackari Wahlström and Molly Sandén which was locked inside a glass house to host 144 hours of live radio as earlier years.  This edition was held between 11 and 17 December. The ambassadors for the audience this year was blogger Hanna "HanaPee" Persson and adventurer and athlete Aron Anderson. Travelling reporter for this year was  Linnea Henriksson who travelled to the Philippines. This year broke the record for money received as 74,410,363 (SEK) was collected.

Musikhjälpen 2018

Theme – "Alla har rätt att funka olika" ("Everyone is entitled to function differently")

The city of Lund was the host of the eleventh edition of Musikhjälpen. The program was broadcast between 10 and 16 December at Stortorget in Lund and hosts for this year was Daniel Adams-Ray, William Spetz and Farah Abadi, all three has in earlier years been part of Musikhjälpen as travelling reporters. The theme for this year was built around people with special needs that live in poor and underdeveloped nations. Travelling reporter was Hanna Persson "HanaPee" who visited Guatemala. Ambassadors for this year was Peg Parnevik and Aron Anderson.

During the week 50 550 204 (SEK) was collected.

Musikhjälpen 2019 

Theme – "Sex är inte ett vapen" ("Sex is not a weapon")
Musikhjälpen 2019 was hosted between 9–15 December 2019 in Stora torget in Västerås. This was the first time Musikhjälpen was broadcast from Västerås, presenters for this year was announced on 11 November as Farah Abadi, Miriam Bryant and Daniel Hallberg. The travelling reporter for this years edition was singer Janice Kavander, she travelled to Uganda. Ambassadors for the audience this year was Arantxa Alvarez and Aron Anderson.

This year a total of 50 572 139 (SEK) was collected.

Musikhjälpen 2020 
Theme – "Ingen människa ska lämnas utan vård" ("No human should be left without hospital care")
Musikhjälpen 2020 was hosted between 14-20 December 2020. Firstly this years Musikhjälpen was to be held in Norrköping, but because of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was decided that this year's edition was to be held at a location in Stockholm. Presenters for this year are Brita Zackari, Farah Abadi and Felix Sandman.

Musikhjälpen 2021 
Theme –  "För en värld utan barnarbete" ("For a world without child labor")
Musikhjälpen 2021 was hosted between 13-19 December 2021, at Gamla Torget in Norrköping. With Brita Zackari, Oscar Zia and Anis Don Demina as presenters. On 15 December Oscar Zia had to leave the glass house as he suffered from a cold. He was replaced by Kodjo Akolor. On 16 December, it was revealed that Anis Don Demina had also become sick with a cold and had to leave the glass house, he was replaced by Linnea Henriksson.

References

External links

2008 radio programme debuts
Children's charities based in Sweden
Development charities based in Sweden
Swedish radio programs
History of radio
Humanitarian aid
2008 establishments in Sweden
Annual events in Sweden