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WHAT'S ON IN SWEDEN

SPORT

Five exciting sports events in Sweden this summer weekend

The Swedish summer is in full swing, so it's time to get outdoors while you still can. What better way to do so than by taking part in some of these big sporting events this weekend?

Five exciting sports events in Sweden this summer weekend
The Swedish summer invites being outdoors. Photo: Werner Nystrand/imagebank.sweden.se

1. Enjoy the Swedish Open in Båstad

In Björn Borg, Sweden produced one of the greatest tennis players of all time, and the country's love affair with the sport still persists in the present day. This weekend marks the start of the Swedish Open in Båstad, near Gothenburg, which kicks off on Sunday July 10th. Plenty of world class tennis will be on offer, and diehards can even book a “Perfect Day” ticket which includes the chance to play against professional players and a spot on centre court for the matches. The kids can even try some mini-tennis matches – not to mention ice cream and goodies.


Båstad Tennis Stadium. Photo: Swedish Open

2. Watch Gotland's very own Olympics

At the Stanga Games (nicknamed the “Gotland Olympics”) participants play traditional sports only over four days. Favourites include pole throwing and the ancient square and border ball, a game involving a ball made of wool and sheepskin. The first competition was organized in 1924, and some of the sports date back to the days of the Vikings. This year the games run from July 6th to Sunday the 10th, so if you're on Gotland, go and take a look. 

3. Watch tomorrow's Zlatan at the Scandinavian Soccer Cup in Stockholm

The first ever edition of the Scandinavian Soccer Cup takes place in Stockholm on Sunday, July 10th. Organized by the Swedish Football Association, it aims to gather children from all over the world to play football over a four-day tournament. The only requirements are that entrants are a member of the football association of their home country, and are aged between 10 and 18. Come along for a look: who knows, you could see the Zlatan Ibrahimovic of tomorrow.


Photo: Simon Paulin/imagebank.sweden.se

4. Watch giants of Swedish football in Stockholm and Gothenburg

Fancy some football at a higher level? This weekend sees two huge Allsvenskan matches take place. On Saturday, Djurgården will be at home to reigning Swedish champions IFK Norrköping at Stockholm's swanky Tele2 arena, while on Sunday, the only Scandinavian club to have won an international competition, IFK Gothenburg, face GIF Sundsvall at Gamla Ullevi. 

5. Do some outdoor training in Malmö and Lund

If you prefer to take part in sports rather than watch them, then get outdoors and start training this weekend. In Malmö, outdoor sessions are organized every Sunday during the summer in Folkets Parken. In Lund meanwhile, Friskis och Svettis hold outdoor Jympa classes every Monday and Thursday morning. Get your sneakers on and get exercising!

Check out our interactive calendar below for more fun things to do in Sweden.

 

 

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CRIME

Spain women’s World Cup players demand more heads roll as Rubiales in court

The crisis within Spanish football deepened Friday as the women's World Cup winners demanded more heads roll at its scandal-hit RFEF federation whose disgraced ex-boss appeared in court on sexual assault charges.

Spain women's World Cup players demand more heads roll as Rubiales in court

Just hours after Luis Rubiales was quizzed by a judge for kissing midfielder Jenni Hermoso, all but two of Spain’s 23 World Cup players said they would not don the national shirt without deeper changes within the RFEF, demanding its current interim head also resign.

The statement came as the squad’s new coach Montse Tome was to announce the lineup for two upcoming UEFA Women’s Nations League matches against Sweden and Switzerland, which was promptly postponed, federation sources said.

“The changes put in place are not enough,” said a statement signed by 39 players, among them 21 of the 23 World Cup winners.

Demanding “fundamental changes to the RFEF’s leadership”, they called for the “resignation of the RFEF president” Pedro Rocha, who took over as interim leader when FIFA suspended Rubiales on August 26.

But the federation insisted Rocha would “lead the transition process within the RFEF until the next election”, insisting any changes would be made “gradually”.

A federation source said a leadership election could take place early next year.

“This institution is more important than individuals and it’s crucial it remains strong. We’ll work tirelessly to create stability first in order to progress later,” Rocha said in the statement.

Despite a string of recent changes, the federation remains in the hands of officials appointed by Rubiales, and the players are demanding structural changes “within the office of the president and the secretary general”.

Brought to court by a kiss

The bombshell came after days of optimism within the RFEF that the players would come round after it sacked controversial coach Jorge Vilda, appointed Tome in his stead and pledged further changes, not to mention Rubiales’ long-awaited resignation on Sunday.

On August 25, 81 Spain players, including the 23 world champions, had started a mass strike saying they would not play for the national team without significant changes at the head of the federation.

Earlier on Friday, Rubiales appeared in court where he was quizzed by Judge Francisco de Jorge who is heading up the investigation into the kiss, which sparked international outrage and saw him brought up on sexual assault charges.

At the end of the closed-door hearing, in which Rubiales repeated his claim that the kiss was consensual, the judge ordered him not to come within 200 metres of Hermoso and barred him from any contact with the player.

At the weekend, the 46-year-old had described the kiss as “a spontaneous act, a mutual act, an act that both consented to, which was… 100 percent non-sexual” in an interview with British broadcaster Piers Morgan.

Hermoso, 33, has insisted it was not, describing it as “an impulsive, macho act, out of place and with no type of consent on my part”.

Speaking to reporters outside court, Hermoso’s lawyer Carla Vall said they were “very satisfied” with the hearing.

“Thanks to this video, everyone can see there was no consent whatsoever and that is what we will demonstrate in court.”

Allegations of coercion

Hermoso herself will also testify before the judge at some stage, who will then have to decide whether or not to push ahead with the prosecution. No date has been given for her testimony.

The complaint against Rubiales, which was filed by the public prosecutors’ office, cites alleged offences of sexual assault and coercion.

Under a recent reform of the Spanish penal code, a non-consensual kiss can be considered sexual assault, a category which groups all types of sexual violence.

If found guilty, Rubiales could face anything from a fine to four years in prison, sources at the public prosecutors’ office have said.

In their complaint, prosecutors explained the offence of coercion related to Hermoso’s statement saying she “and those close to her had suffered constant ongoing pressure by Luis Rubiales and his professional entourage to justify and condone” his actions.

At the hearing, Rubiales also denied coercion.

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