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Sweden beat Norway to curling gold

Sweden took home gold at this weekend's European Curling Championships in Karlstad, beating Norway 8-5.

Sweden beat Norway to curling gold

Last year, Sweden had to make do with a silver medal in the European Curling Championship after losing out to Norway in the final.

This weekend, the team made a stunning comeback, beating Norway on home ground in Karlstad, west-central Sweden.

The Swedish team’s performance was of high calibre throughout the tournament. The team lost just one out of 11 games before picking up the gold in Karlstad.

“It feels really wonderful,” Sweden’s skip, Niklas Edin, told the TV4 channel after the winning game against Norway.

After the third end, Sweden were losing 2-1. But some tenacious play saw them eventually pull away to win by three.

“We had some control towards the end. If felt like we had really landed it and we were able to enjoy the last two rounds,” said Edin.

Team captain, Peja Lindholm, told TV4 that the win “means a great deal” to the team, which is aiming to qualify for the 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia.

“It is never good losing but if I am going to lose to someone then it is OK losing to Niklas,” said Norwegian skip Thomas Ulsrud.

“They played well all week. I think for the first half of the final we had them…but after the break they were all over us. Well done to the Swedish boys.”

Sweden last won the European Championships in 2009.

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SPORTS

German football fans get green light to return to stadiums next season

Bundesliga clubs and other German sports venues will be allowed to welcome up to 25,000 spectators from next month, the city of Berlin said Tuesday after a meeting of officials from Germany's 16 states.

German football fans get green light to return to stadiums next season
Germany fans at the recent Euro 2020 match in London. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Christian Charisius

Most matches in Germany’s top football league were played behind closed doors last season – so-called Geisterspiele or ghost games – because of the Covid-19 virus.

The new Bundesliga season starts on August 13th and with infection rates having fallen sharply, sports stadiums could be at 50 percent capacity, with the total number per match or event capped at 25,000.

The only exception is reigning Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich, where up to 20,000 fans will be allowed into home games at the 75,000-capacity Allianz Arena because officials in Bavaria are allowing only 35 percent of capacity.

The new rules apply until September 11 and amid concerns in Germany about the Delta variant of the coronavirus, incidence rates must not exceed 35 new infections per 100,000 people over the previous seven days.

READ ALSO: German states call for uniform Covid rules at big events

If that happens, and “the infection cannot be clearly contained”, a maximum of 5,000 spectators will be allowed into sports events, German officials warned.

Only fans who can prove they are vaccinated or present a negative test will be allowed into stadiums and hygiene rules must be followed.

An easing of the regulations meant crowds of around 14,000 were allowed to attend Euro 2020 matches at Munich’s Allianz Arena over the last three weeks, but fans were largely kept out of German league games last season.

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