Sweden - Becky Ohlsen [16]
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Listen to Swedish radio via the internet at www.sr.se.
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The history of relations between the Sami and Nordic peoples is often a dark one. Since at least the 1600s, the Sami religious practice of shamanism was denigrated, and noaidi (Sami spiritual leaders) were persecuted. Use of the Sami language was discouraged, and Sami children were coerced into school to learn Swedish. Generally speaking, the Sami in Sweden still do not enjoy the same rights as Sami people in Norway and Finland; this is partly due to the fact that hydroelectric developments and mining activities, which are of great importance to the Swedish economy, have been established on traditional Sami land. Despite improved mainstream attitudes, many Sami still encounter prejudiced attitudes, which paint them as ‘welfare reliant’ and as ‘having it good’. At an international Sami youth conference held in October 2008, participants demanded that more be done to address the high level of youth suicide in the Sami community.
Nature plays a crucial role in Sami religious traditions, as does the singing of the emotion-laden storytelling called yoik (also spelt joik) or ‘song of the plains’. Briefly banned as part of the religion’s suppression, it’s now enjoying a resurgence in popularity. Equally positive is the fact that Sami education is available in government-run Sami schools or compulsory nine-year municipal schools, which provide identical schooling to that received by Swedish children but take into account the Sami cultural and linguistic heritage. Of the 6000 or so Sami who still speak their native tongue, 5000 speak the North Sami dialect.
‘Nature plays a crucial role in Sami religious traditions, as does thesinging of emotion-laden story-telling called yoik or “song of the plains”’
The booklet The Saami – People of the Sun & Wind, published by Ájtte, the Swedish Mountain and Saami Museum in Jokkmokk, does a good job of describing Sami traditions in all four countries of the Sápmi region and is available at tourist shops around the area.
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SPORT
Football
Football is the most popular sporting activity in Sweden and there are 3320 clubs with over one million members. The domestic season runs from April to early November. The national arena, Råsunda Stadium in Solna, a suburb in Stockholm’s northwest, can hold up to 37,000 roaring spectators.
Now the manager of Mexico’s national football team, Sven Göran Eriksson achieved fame and notoriety as the head coach of England’s national team, when rumours of scandalous affairs and an excessive salary made fodder for the UK press. Two of Sweden’s best-known Swedish football players are Gunnar Nordahl (1921–95), who helped Sweden win gold at the 1948 Olympics and went on to be the all-time top scorer at AC Milan, and Malmö-born Zlatan Ibrahimović (1981–), currently signed to Inter-Milan.
Ice Hockey
There are amateur ice-hockey teams in most Swedish communities. The national premier league, Elitserien, has 12 professional teams; there are also several lower divisions. Matches take place from autumn to late spring, up to four times a week in Stockholm, primarily at Globen arena (Click here).
Skiing
Alpine skiing competitions are held annually, particularly in Åre (Jämtland; Click here), where events include Skutskjutet, the world’s greatest downhill ski race (with up to 3000 competitors) in late April or early May.
Vasaloppet (www.vasaloppet.se), the world’s biggest nordic (cross-country) ski race, takes place on the first Sunday in March, when over 15,000 competitors follow a 90km route. For further details, see the sections on Sälen Click here and Mora (Dalarna; ) or check out the Vasaloppet website.
Swedish skiing stars include four-time Olympic gold-medal winner Gunde Svan and giant slalom icon Ingemar Stenmark, who won a total of 86 races in the Alpine Skiing World