Swedish lottery operator Svenska Spel has extended its long-standing cooperation with Riksidrottsförbundet, the Sweden Sports Federation, through a new agreement.
The lottery and the national sports federation have been in close cooperation for over a decade, and its new deal, worth SEK 42m over two years, renews that relationship through until December 31, 2022. The new deal will come into play on January 1, 2021.
Patrik Hofbauer, President and CEO of Svenska Spel, said: “Sport is a fundamental part of our society. We are very pleased to continue our partnership with the National Sports Federation. Together we secure important funds for the sports movement.”
Stefan Bergh, General Secretary of Riksidrottsförbundet, added: “It is gratifying that our important cooperation with Svenska Spel continues because it enables efforts to reach more people, counteract match-fixing, gives associations and associations the opportunity to continue to develop their activities in line with Strategy 2025 and last but not least increased opportunities to combine elite sport with studies.”
The extension of the cooperation means the joint work against match-fixing can also continue. Svenska Spel finances a full-time position at Riksidrottsförbundet with the aim of working preventively and training against match-fixing. Together, a service is run where tips on match-fixing can be left anonymously.
The lottery and the national sports federation also continue to facilitate active athletes to combine elite sports with post-secondary studies by awarding the Elite Sports Scholarship, a SEK 50,000 scholarship that is awarded each year to about 50 active athletes. The collaboration will also see Svenska Spel continue to be the main sponsor of the annual winter and summer Swedish Championship weeks.