Nordiska Spelen Swedish 2001

Between 1901 and 1926, seven major sporting events were held in Stockholm under the name the Nordic Games. During the little more than a week that each event lasted, the entire city buzzed with activity. The Games introduced sports such as bandy and ice hockey to a Swedish audience, while disciplines like kick sled racing and ballooning can be assumed to have disappeared for good from competitive arenas.

But the Nordic Games were not limited to athletic competitions alone; they also included cultural elements and patriotic displays, very much in keeping with the spirit of the time. At the same time, the Games reflect the development of Swedish sport—from an activity mainly for the military and the aristocracy into a broad popular movement. The history of the Games is further illustrated by a series of unique photographs.

Åke Jönsson is a former sports editor at Sydsvenska Dagbladet and has previously published several books on sports and cultural history.