Due to domestic strike action in Sweden, a decision over whether or not the FIM Meridian Lifts Swedish Speedway Grand Prix will be held at the Olympic Stadium, Stockholm, will be made early next week.
An alternative venue in Avesta has been provisionally booked for the weekend and will be the host of this year’s Grand Prix if strike action continues into next week.
Commenting on the situation, Rolf Sundberg, Secretary General, SVEMO, the local organising promoter said: ‘Admittedly this is not an ideal situation for everyone involved in the staging of the event. We do have contingency plans in place to hold the GP at Avesta should the strike action fail to be averted.
‘In the meantime, we ask supporters who have already purchased tickets for the event to keep hold of their tickets until a decision has been made. If the event has to be moved we will give fans a choice of replacement tickets or a full refund.’
John Postlethwaite, Chief Executive, Benfield Sports International, rights holders of the FIM Speedway Grand Prix Series said:
‘The one definite fact is that there will be a Swedish Grand Prix on 31 May. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Swedish media for their support of our case to stage the Grand Prix at the Olympic Stadium. The Grand Prix Series, which is broadcast to over 100 countries worldwide, attracts fans from all over the world to visit Stockholm, and it would be a real shame for the city if the event was not held in the historic stadium a week on Saturday.’
FIM Race Director, Ole Olsen, commented: ‘The only restricting factor in terms of making an early decision is the laying down of the racing track at the stadium. We will leave this to the very last possible moment in order to maximise our chances of staging the event in Stockholm.’
For further information please contact:
Rolf Sundberg, Secretary General, SVEMO, tel: + 46 11 23 10 80
Nicola Sands, Media Manager, Benfield Sports International,
tel: +44 (0)207 578 7453
Marc Petrier, FIM Press Officer, tel: +41 (79) 202 4913