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https://nordictimes.com/sport/janne-andersson-steps-down-as-sweden-national-team-coach/

Sport

Janne Andersson steps down as Sweden national team coach

Published 21 November 2023
– By Editorial Staff
Jan "Janne" Andersson.
2 minute read
Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

After seven years, Jan “Janne” Andersson stepped down as head coach of the Swedish national football team last night. He ended his tenure with a victory for Sweden in the Euro qualifiers, beating Estonia 2-0 in front of a crowd of nearly 12,000.

Despite the win, Andersson and the national team’s recent past has been dominated by the horrific violence that took place in Belgium a few weeks ago. In connection with the Belgium-Sweden qualifying match, two Swedes were murdered and one seriously injured in a terrorist attack by an Islamist who was then killed by Belgian police after a brief shootout.

Andersson’s final match was characterized by a clear Swedish advantage, with the team starting with a high tempo and initially having some good scoring chances. In the 22nd minute, Viktor Claesson broke the deadlock with a goal to make it 1-0. Ten minutes into the second half, Emil Forsberg made it 2-0.

– I don’t know what will happen tonight. We are going to do something fun with the whole team. We’ll see what happens tonight. I have no expectations. It will be something nice for sure. As long as I get a few beers, I’ll be fine, said an obviously moved Andersson after the game.

The match itself was insignificant for Sweden, as it had long been clear that Sweden would miss next year’s Euro finals, just as they had missed the last World Cup finals in Qatar. Janne Andersson’s greatest achievement was a surprising quarterfinal berth at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

At the time of writing, it is still undecided who will take over as national team coach. Speculations and rumors are circulating about the Djurgården duo Kim Bergstrand and Tomas Lagerlöf, as well as BK Häcken’s successful coach Per Mathias Högmo.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

Swedish national team coach Jan "Janne" Andersson

On April 7, 2016, it was announced that Jan "Janne" Andersson would take over as coach of the Swedish national football team, replacing Erik Hamrén. Until January 2017, Janne Andersson had former national team coach Lars Lagerbäck as an advisor.

In November 2017, Andersson led Sweden to the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia after the team finished second in the qualifying group and eliminated Italy in the playoffs. At the World Cup, Andersson then led the national team to the quarterfinals against England, after defeating Switzerland 1-0 in the round of 16. The quarterfinal against England was lost 2-0, but it was still Sweden's best World Cup finish since the USA in 1994.

In the fall of 2019, Sweden qualified for UEFA Euro 2020 in Germany, where they were eliminated in the round of 16 by Ukraine. The match ended 2-2 after extra time.

Under Andersson's leadership, Sweden then failed to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar after losing to Poland in a playoff. On October 2, 2023, it was announced that Janne Andersson would be stepping down after missing the European Championship finals.

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https://nordictimes.com/sport/male-nfl-cheerleaders-spark-reactions/

Sport

Male NFL cheerleaders spark reactions

Published 19 August 2025
– By Editorial Staff
The Minnesota Vikings welcome Blaize Shiek and Louie Conn to their cheerleading squad.
2 minute read
Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

The NFL team Minnesota Vikings has for the first time selected male cheerleaders for its regular squad. Their debut during the weekend’s game quickly led to both criticism and praise on social media.

It was during the game against Las Vegas Raiders that Blaize Shiek and Louie Conn performed on the field for the first time together with the team’s other cheerleaders.

The phenomenon of male cheerleaders is not entirely unique, however. Twelve of the league’s 32 teams currently have male members in their cheerleading squads, which represents just over a third of the teams.

Previously, men have been present in NFL cheerleading activities primarily as so-called “lifters” or stuntmen, a tradition that teams like the Baltimore Ravens introduced as early as 1998.

Starting in 2018, several teams have gone further to also include male dancers in their squads. This marked a departure from the previous arrangement where dance roles were reserved exclusively for women.

Minnesota Vikings is now one of the teams that allows men to be integrated directly into the traditional cheerleader group. The two new members, Blaize Shiek and Louie Conn, are part of the squad on the same terms as the other cheerleaders.

Reactions have been mixed. Critical posts have spread on social media, but the team emphasizes that the audition process is open to everyone and that male cheerleaders are not something new within the league.

The question of male cheerleaders has repeatedly sparked debate in the United States, where some highlight inclusion and diversity while others argue that traditional elements of the sport are being changed.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

Facts: Male cheerleaders in the NFL

  • First in the league: Los Angeles Rams and New Orleans Saints in 2018.
  • Number of teams in 2025: Twelve of 32 NFL teams have male cheerleaders.
  • Different roles:
    – Lifters/stuntmen – for example with the Baltimore Ravens since 1998.
    – Dancers – introduced in 2018 by the Rams and Saints.
    – Integrated cheerleaders – men in regular squads, for example with the Minnesota Vikings.

https://nordictimes.com/sport/ten-year-old-makes-chess-history/

Sport

Ten-year-old makes chess history

Published 18 August 2025
– By Editorial Staff
Indian player Bodhana Sivanandan defeated 60-year-old grandmaster Peter Wells.
1 minute read
Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

Ten-year-old Indian Bodhana Sivanandan has won the title “Woman International Master” in chess. She is the youngest person ever to win the title and to defeat a grandmaster.

Bodhana, who is a British citizen and lives in London, began playing chess during the coronavirus crisis when she was only five years old.

— When it was 2020, it was Covid, so one of my dad’s friends was going back to India, and he had a few toys and books, and he gave them to us, Bodhana tells BBC. In one of the bags, I saw a chessboard, and I was interested in the pieces.

She began playing with the pieces, but her father explained that you could also play games with them. From the beginning, the girl showed talent for the game, something her father was amazed by since no one else in the family was particularly good at chess.

Defeated grandmaster

During the British championships, she defeated 60-year-old grandmaster Peter Wells, making her the youngest chess player ever to defeat a grandmaster. The previous record was held by American Carissa Yip, who achieved it in 2019.

With her victory against Wells, she also earned the title “Woman International Master” (WIM), which is the second-highest title for female chess players after Woman Grandmaster, which is the highest.

Bodhana says that chess makes her feel good and helps her with “many other things, like math and counting”. The ten-year-old’s goal is to become a grandmaster.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/sport/duplantis-breaks-world-record-yet-again/

Sport

Duplantis breaks world record yet again

Published 13 August 2025
– By Editorial Staff
It has now been over two years since Duplantis last lost a competition.
1 minute read
Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

Swedish pole vaulter Armand Duplantis has set a new world record in pole vault. It is the athletics star’s 13th world record.

During this week’s Continental Tour in Budapest, Hungary, the 25-year-old first jumped 6.11 meters and thereby secured victory ahead of Emmanouil Karalis, who cleared 6.02 meters. This marks Duplantis’ 32nd consecutive competition victory – it has now been over two years since he last lost.

On his second attempt, he raised the bar to 6.29 meters and cleared the height, which became his new world record.

— I knew I had a good chance when I went over. But I hit it pretty hard too. Just tried to stay cool. I’m glad it stayed up, Duplantis tells Swedish public broadcaster SVT.

Earlier this year, he broke not just one, but two world records. In March, he jumped 6.27 meters at the All Star Perche in Clermont-Ferrand, France, and then broke that new record on home soil in June with 6.28 meters.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/sport/sweden-launches-leisure-card-subsidy-for-childrens-activities/

Sport

Sweden launches leisure card subsidy for children’s activities

Published 11 August 2025
– By Editorial Staff
All children between eight and 16 years old receive 500 kronor (approximately €45) per year to spend on a regular leisure activity.
1 minute read
Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

Starting in September, the Leisure Card (Fritidskortet) can be used to partially fund children’s activities outside of school. The Swedish government hopes the initiative will encourage a more active lifestyle.

The Leisure Card is part of the Swedish government’s reform to promote children’s and young people’s participation in sports, culture, outdoor activities and community organizations. The card is used digitally by guardians, and all children between eight and 16 years old receive SEK 500 (€45) per year to spend on regular leisure activities. Families who received housing allowance last year instead get SEK 2,000 (€180) per child on the card.

— As Minister for Social Affairs, I want to make life a little easier for people by creating good conditions for health and community. The Leisure Card is a reform that enables children and young people to have an active leisure time together with others. The family’s finances should not determine whether a child can participate in a leisure activity or not, said Swedish Social Affairs Minister Jakob Forssmed last year.

The association or cultural school must be connected to the Leisure Card system for the subsidy to be valid. The money can also be used to rent equipment. By “regular” it means that the activity needs to take place at least six times during a six-month period.

Applications for the subsidy open on September 1.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

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