In the past, sports and events have chosen to shut down because of the corona pandemic. Today, the government announced that no gatherings with more than 50 people are allowed.
Despite the fact that other countries have chosen to close down the trotting business, the Swedish will be kept up - despite the new directives.
- The trotting business is not a public gathering. Since a few weeks back no audience can come in and it is now a strict workplace. We follow the same principles as we did a number of weeks to secure this workplace, which is the trot sport. We combine to safeguard all people's livelihoods and access to their workplace in combination with dealing with this serious situation, says Swedish travelsport CEO Maria Croon.
"Nine tenths of revenue comes from gaming"- We have minimized access to the tracks. Only those who are active that day get access, says Croon.
The Swedish trotting business has had no audience since March 12. While other sports and events are dependent on their audience revenue, the reality is different for trot sports.
"Nine tenths of the revenue comes from gaming," says ATG's CEO, Hans Skarplöth.
ATG, which is a subsidiary of Swedish trotting sports, sees a slight increase in gambling in the Swedish market, while gambling from other countries has exploded.
- While the trotting business is down in many other countries, many are playing on the Swedish trot. Gambling from other countries has increased tremendously, says Skarplöth.
At Solvalla, on the outskirts of Stockholm, the competitions continue as usual and Sports Manager Anders Malmrot sees no problems with that.
- The stable hill is so wide in itself that here we spread people on such a large surface and the horses do not infect. I see no problem with us continuing to compete, he says.