The Vasa race was broadcast live on SVT as early as 1966. Since then, the grand race has been a safe tradition for both participants on site and the audience at home on the TV couch, the first Sunday in March.

Now the tradition is extended for another three years.

A new agreement between SVT and the organizers has been signed, until 2023.

- Vasaloppet is the Swedish people's most popular sporting event and every year 3.5 million TV viewers gather around this sports classic that SVT broadcast with pride for over 50 years.

Vasaloppet's unique mix of elite, exerciser, history and tradition, together with Tjejvasan, is a given highlight during the Winter Studio season, says SVT's sports director Åsa Edlund Jönsson.

"This year's Vasaloppet will be historic for SVT"

The Vasaloppet 2021 is Corona-adapted and contains only two competition races with limited starting fields;

Tjejvasan on Saturday 27 February and Vasaloppet on Sunday 7 March.

SVT broadcasts both races.

- This year's Vasaloppet will be historic for SVT.

The current situation means that we find different and creative solutions to carry out the event as well as we ever can.

We are happy that we can show an elite competition at Vasaloppet and Tjejvasan.

We are working full time on the complete set-up for the Vasaloppet these days and hope to return with this as soon as possible, says project manager Helena Bäckman.

From the organizers' point of view, the new broadcasting agreement with Swedish Television is of course welcome:

- We are very happy that the Vasaloppet as an engine for exercise and public health can continue to inspire the Swedish people via the TV screen.

Historically, together with SVT, we have built up interest in the popular movement Vasaloppet and for those who can not experience the wonderful atmosphere on site in the Vasaloppet arena, there is now the opportunity to enjoy the folkfest from home in the coming years.

And from there find inspiration and motivation to finish their own training in different ways, says Johan Eriksson, acting CEO of Vasaloppet, to SVT Sport.