Closed training facilities and halls became part of everyday life in 2020. When the corona pandemic hit the world, it also hit the Swedish public health.

SVT has been able to take part in a compilation of all LOK support applications received for 2020 compared with 2019. The figures clearly show that sports among young people decreased last year.

The largest decrease is seen in the age group 21-25 years, where sports went down 20 percent.

- We see that it goes wrong, that it affects differently at different intervals, says Björn Eriksson.

Almost halving in parasport

For people with disabilities, it has decreased by 44 percent - this is a figure that upsets Eriksson.

- It is far beyond what can be tolerated and one of the hardest numbers.

I am so annoyed.

In my gloomiest moments, I am not surprised, but now that one begins to approach seeing the light in the tunnel, I am a little surprised that the aspects of public health are suddenly considered to weigh so easily in so many decision-makers.

"Money no universal medicine"

Björn Eriksson thinks that politicians should contribute more money to promote public health.

How should money help reduce sports?

- Money means that clubs can continue to operate and they do not have to increase membership fees.

However, money cannot replace the effect of people quitting for other reasons.

As if there are no training and competition opportunities.

Money is not a universal medicine but one of the things that can do something.

Difficult for contact sports during the pandemic

If you look at the sports that are the biggest, football has done well.

There, it has rather increased by 0.5 percent.

But indoor sports such as floorball (-21.1), gymnastics (-24.4) and handball (-23.1) are experiencing dramatic reductions.

It is toughest for contact sports.

Budo and martial arts decreased by 37.0 percent, boxing by 35.6 and taekwondo saw a decrease of 27.9.

- I am worried about indoor sports and contact sports in municipalities that say they should support the fight against corona and thus close down facilities.

The example of horror was how they did in Stockholm, where they almost released barbed wire in the exercise track as well.

That's something that worries me.