Members Zone新聞 News

Sports & culture to get exemption from coronavirus restrictions, Swedish government suggests

O-Ringen Orienteering Competition in Boden, Sweden 2013

The COVID-19 pandemic has severely affected the livelihood of those in the sports and culture industries. Currently, public activities with over 50 people are forbidden in Sweden, and consequently sports and culture are at a standstill, threatening livelihoods for many workers and entrepreneurs in the industries.

After petitions from clubs, federations, artists, companies and many others in the industries, the Swedish government announced in a press conference today (21 August) its newest proposal that sport and cultural activities with an audience of over 50 people will be exempted from 1 October, provided that 2m distance is maintained between people. Restaurants with guest performances, hitherto treated as public cultural performances, will also be exempted.

Whether there will be a new upper limit for these exempted activities remains unknown, and is subject to further comment from the Public Health Authority (Folkhälsomyndigheten). In addition, whether mass participation events, such as running and orienteering races, will be covered by the law amendment, remains unknown.

The government also proposed crisis aid to sports and culture, totalling 2.5 billion Swedish kronor.

Source: SVT

(Archive photo)