Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - IV. Education and Mental Culture. Introd. by P. E. Lindström - 7. Athletics and Sport (Idrott). By [V. G. Balck] G. Åsbrink
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iv. education and mental cultulle.
esteemed by the Swedes, not only as means of livelihood but also as sports,
when it was a question of taking care of themselves in the woods, in the
field, and on the water. The fact that the sea-faring Northerner was a great
sportsman and warrior is attested not only by the history of the North
but also by that of several other countries.
The sports mentioned above are thus almost the same as those which
have remained practically unaltered through the centuries down to our
own days, and we may therefore suppose that the Scandinavians of olden
times had, by means of sport, attained the height of physical
development. That those Scandinavians who, for centuries, colonized England
brought with them to that country their games and sports is beyond
question, and thus they have contributed towards the establishment of
English sports, among which the athletic exercises mentioned above are
to be numbered.
Athletics and sports have always been held in great honour by the
inhabitants of Sweden. About the middle of last century, however, they
were by no means in a flourishing state, and the Swedish national games
were on the point of dying out entirely. But new life has been infused
into Swedish sport by the recently awakened spirit of athletics which
has spread over the country during the last ten years, and it has,
moreover, been influenced by the enormous interest in athletics and sport
characterizing the present time. Swedish sport has thus naturally acquired
a more modern stamp, even though some of its branches, being purely
national, have preserved their original northern character; this is especially
the case with the winter sports.
Winter sports, by which we mean exercises requiring ice or snow for their
pursuit, have never shown any signs of dying out in Sweden, even though the
graphic curve presents descending as well as ascending portions. This kind of
sports has always been thoroughly national and independent. By means of
contests and careful attention they have, however, developed to a pitch of
perfection hitherto unknown.
Skating is the sport most in vogue in the country, for, thanks to Sweden’s
great expanses of water, the sport in question is so popular that, without
exaggeration, it may be said that nearly everybody can skate. Skating has of låte
years become as general among women as it is among men. Even among country
folk skating is quite a common thing, partly as a pastime, partly as a practical
means of rapid progression over the numerous fiords. Swedish skaters have won
recognition and distinction even abroad, and in 1911 both figure-skating
championships were won by Swedes, while the championships of Europe, as well as
that of the world, have, at the international contests arranged by the
International Skating Union, been several times won by Swedes. (The world’s
championship for ten years running). The Union in question, which embraces
sixteen countries, is directed to a certain degree from Sweden, which provides
the chairman and the secretary. In speed skating, Sweden has also produced
many good exponents, who have won championships at the international races
abroad. Stockholms allmänna skridskoklubb (The Stockholm Skating Club) was
the body that first took the lead in this department. Of låte years, a very
great number of skating clubs have sprung up in Sweden, and in most of the
larger towns we find either natural or artificial skating rinks.
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