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Stockholm backs Sweden’s bid to host Winter Olympics

The city of Stockholm could end up hosting some of the main events if Sweden's bid to host the 2030 Winter Olympics is successful.

Stockholm backs Sweden's bid to host Winter Olympics
Ebba Andersson of Sweden competes at the Beijing Winter Olympic Games in 2022. Photo: Lehtikuva/Markku Ulander

“The city council is favourable to the initiative to organise the Olympic Games and Paralympics in 2030,” the city said in a statement.

The Swedish government announced earlier this month that it backed the Swedish Olympic Committee’s bid and said it was ready to begin the process of looking into state guarantees.

Under the bid proposal, events would be held in Stockholm as well as several other smaller Swedish towns including Falun, Åre and Östersund.

“By giving our municipal guarantee, our message is that this event can be carried out in a manner that is sustainable for the climate, economy and social aspects,” mayor Karin Wanngård said in the statement.

Sweden’s Olympic Committee (SOK) hailed the support.

“The sporting community stands united behind the bid. As we plan to use existing arenas and organiser experience, the conditions are better than ever before,” the interim head of the Swedish Sports Confederation, Anna Iwarsson, said in a SOK statement.

Stockholm hosted the Summer Games in 1912, but has never hosted a Winter Olympics despite numerous attempts over the years.

France and Switzerland have both announced bids for the 2030 Games. The International Olympic Committee is expected to make its decision in 2024.

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CRIME

Suspects held after 38-year-old shot dead on Södermalm in Stockholm

Several people are being held after a man in his 40s was shot dead in Stockholm's Södermalm district.

Suspects held after 38-year-old shot dead on Södermalm in Stockholm

The shooting happened at around 6.20pm on Monday evening and a huge police operation was immediately launched.

Police cordoned off the area around Helgalunden on Allhelgonagatan, which is close to the busy Götgatan street, Skanstull metro station and the Internationella Engelska Gymnasiet high school.

Sweden’s public broadcaster SVT reports that the victim is a 38-year-old man with links to gang crime, although police said it was too early to say whether the shooting was connected to a gang conflict.

Swedish tabloid Aftonbladet reports that one of the suspects is a man in his 20s, with a police record of a series of minor offences but no violent crime convictions. Police said there were other people in custody too, but declined to say what they were suspected of.

Roughly where the man was shot. Screenshot: Google Maps

The shooting happened in front of several witnesses.

“I live 50 metres from the scene and ran downstairs with a blanket and first aid kit. It was nice seeing so many people already there trying to save a life,” a witness told SVT.

“This happened in the middle of the day near the metro where there are a lot of people. This is otherwise a safe area. At the same time, it’s sad no matter where shootings happen.”

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