Stockholm Activities: Sports

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Stockholm is home to several elite sports teams, and if you're a sports fan you might want to watch a game. The most popular spectator sports are football (soccer) and ice hockey. Also, bandy has something of a cult following. Tickets for all games can be bought online from Ticnet www.ticnet.se/html/home.htmI?&l=EN.

The Swedish top football league, Allsvenskan, is considerably weaker than most of its Western European sister leagues, and Swedish teams generally struggle in the European cups. The fans don't seem to mind that much, and the games can still be an exciting experience. Unlike in continental Europe, the football season starts in April and ends in October. There are currently four teams from Stockholm in Allsvenskan:

• AIK plays their home games at the large Råsunda stadium, Solnavägen 51 (T Solna Centrum), a national football stadium in the north-western bordering town of Solna. The arena is Stockholm's largest, with around 35,000 seats, and although seldom sold out, the club generally attracts the biggest home crowds in Sweden.

• Djurgården plays their home games at Stockholms stadion, Lidingövägen/Vallhallavägen (T Stadion), a rather small redbrick stadium on Östermalm, built for the 1912 Stockholm Olympics. Djurgården has been the most successful team in Stockholm for the last couple of years, but has been struggling with form during 2008.

• Hammarby plays their home games at Söderstadion, Arenavägen (T Globen), a 1950s stadium just south of the inner city. The club's home games are known for their atmosphere, although recent incidents of hooliganism have somewhat marred the reputation of its enthusiastic supporters.

• Brommapojkarna plays their home games at Grimsta IP, Bromma (T Hässelby Strand). Brommapojkarna advanced to the top league in 2009.

The Swedish top ice hockey league, Elitserien, is arguably the third best in the world. The season starts at the end of September and ends with finals in April. Stockholm currently has only one team in Elitserien:

• Djurgården plays some of their home games in Globen (the giant Stockholm Globe Arena) and others at the smaller, neighbouring Hovet, both Arenavägen (T Globen).

• AIK play in the second division (allsvenskan). They play their home games at Hovet.

Bandy is a sport popular mainly in Sweden, Finland and Russia, and slowly gaining popularity in Northern America, played outdoors on ice with sticks and a small ball. The field is roughly as large as a soccer field, and the rules show some similarities. If you visit Stockholm sometime from November to February, and want an exotic experience, this is for you. Remember to dress warm, the game is played in two 45-minute halves. Stockholm currently has only one team in the top men's bandy league:

• Hammarby plays their home games at Zinkensdamms IP, Ringvägen 16 (T Zinkensdamm), on Södermalm.

• AIK plays their home games at Bergshamra IP in Solna. Both the men's and the women's teams play here. The men's team plays in the third level of the league system, while the women's team has won the Championships 12 of 20 times. In the 2008/2009 season, they are the defending champions.

There are several big sporting events taking place in Stockholm.

• One of the most visible sporting events is the Stockholm Marathon www.stockholmmarathon.se/Start/index.cfm?Lan_ID=3, held annually on a Saturday in late May or early June, when some 18,000 participants run two laps around the inner city, while the Stockholmers gather on the sidewalks to cheer.
  • Stockholm Marathon 2010, June 5. (Deadline for entries: February 15, 2010).

• Lidingöloppet www.lidingoloppet.se claims to be the world's largest cross-contry race. Held annually in September on Lidingö, an island east of the inner city, the 30 km running event attracts around 30,000 participants.
  • Lidingöloppet 2009, September 26.

• Midnattsloppet www.midnattsloppet.com/Start/index.cfm?Lan_ID=3 is a 10 km night-time running event held annually in mid-August on the strets of Södermalm. There is plenty of live music and other entertainment along the course, creating a party vibe that draws huge numbers of spectators.
  • Midnattsloppet 2009, August 15.

• DN-galan www.dngalan.com/main/lang-en is the leading track and field event in Sweden and a part of the IAAF World Athletic Tour, held annually in July in the beautiful Stockholm Olympic Stadium.
  • DN-galan 2009, July 31. (Ticket sales start December 1.)

• Stockholm Open www.ifstockholmopen.se/en-gb. Stockholm Open is a tennis event on the ATP Tour, held in the Royal Tennis Hall in Östermalm in October, attracting many of the world's finest tennis players.
  • Stockholm Open 2009, October 17-25.

• Stockholm International Horse Show www.stockholmhorseshow.com/content.asp?id=15. A major international indoor equestrian event, held annually in the Stockholm Globe Arena, featuring the World Cup in dressage, show jumping and World Cup Four in Hand driving.
  • Stockholm International Horse Show 2009, November 27-29.