Sweden and the Olympic Games
Sweden has attended all Olympic Games with he sole exception of the St. Louis Games in 1904.In 1896, Henrik Sjöberg, a candidate of medicine, made the long journey from Stockholm to the Greek capital - partly on his own expense - to participate in four athletic events (high jump finishing 4th, long jump - 6th, - discus -7th, 100 m - eliminated in the first round) and one gymnastic event (horse vault - placing unknown).The first Swedish woman in Olympic competition was Elsa Wallenberg in the 1908 indoor tennis tournament in London.The first Olympic medal for Sweden was of gold and won by August Nilsson, Karl Gustaf Staaf and Gustaf Söderström together with three Danes in a tug-war team on July 15, 1900, in Paris.Sweden has attended all Olympic Winter Games and was also represented in the winter sports event held as part of the Olympics in 1908 (figure skating) and 1920 (figure skating and ice hockey). The first Swedish competitor was Elna Montgomery in women´s figure skating in 1908 in London.In the 24 Olympic Games 1896-1996 and the 17 Olympic Winter Games 1924-94, more than 12 000 medals (including arts competition 1912-48) have been awarded.Sweden has taken 564,5 of these medals (including 174,5 gold), and holds 6th position in the unofficial ranking behind USA, Soviet Union (including EUN in 1992), Great Britain, France and GDR (now part of the reunited Germany).Swedish Olympic champions form The Olympic Gold Club, Olympiska Guldklubben. The aim is to promote Swedish Olympic sport, and members can be part of marketing projects of the Swedish Olympic Committee.
The games of the Vth Olympiad was held in Stockholm in 1912. The Stadium built for these Games was also used for the Equestrian Games of the XVIth Olympiad in 1956.
Stockholm was a candidate for the organisation of the Games of the XXVIIIth Olympiad in 2004 beaten in the final round by Athens, who got the Games, Rome, Cape Town and Buenos Aires.
Swedish cities were bidding, unsuccessfully for the Olympic Winter Games in 1984 (Göteborg), 1988 and 1992 (Falun), 1994, 1998 and 2002 (Östersund).
