The competitions under the name Special Olympics World Winter Games 2021 were intended to be held in Åre and Östersund in Jämtland County.
On Thursday evening, the Parasport Association made the decision not to pursue. A press release states that the event has not been able to gather the resources required.
- It would have been great to be the host of a competition where the Olympic fire had to come to Sweden for the first time since the 1912 Games. Now it does not happen. The torch must travel another way. The reasons for this make us both frustrated and disappointed, says Johan Strid, secretary general, in a press release.
Three reasons are given as reasons for the decision. It is not possible to carry out the arrangement on completely commercial grounds. No state support is given for individual events like this in Sweden, according to the Parasport Association. And the support that the event has been promised by Special Olympics International has not arrived on time.
- Let our defeat act as a starting point for the power collection that is required, the power of sport has enormous potential, and not least for our target groups. If we are all helped as we are so good at, a big improvement can become a reality for one of society's weakest target groups. The region in Jämtland Härjedalen has really seen and confirmed the potential that exists, now we hope that politicians at the national level will also see the same opportunities and act accordingly, said Johan Strid, secretary general, in the press release.