A new old initiative on sports conscription is to create opportunities for young elite athletes to combine sports and conscription.
First out is cross-country skiing at Dalregementet in Falun.
"Sports conscription enables continued investment, which increases the chance of future sports medals. This is a step forward in the joint work of the Swedish Sports Confederation, the Swedish Olympic Committee, and the Swedish Paralympic Committee, Elite Sports 2030, and we will follow the development with great interest," says Anna Iwarsson, chairperson of the Swedish Sports Confederation, in a press release.
Between 1967 and 2004, there was a sports platoon within the defence. Now, a new start is being made, and this autumn, the first muster and selection will take place.
"Everyone benefits from this. We, within the defence, get sports-active youths who have good prerequisites for conscription and can continue their sports investment," says Ronny Modigs, regimental commander at Dalregementet.
According to the Defence Forces, there are already thoughts on expanding to include more sports, such as biathlon, ski orienteering, orienteering, and shooting.
The conscript elite athletes receive ordinary training within the Defence Forces, but with the difference that they also get time to train their sport.
