The annual Swedish Sports Gala, a prestigious event celebrating the nation’s top athletic achievements, is scheduled for Monday, January 20th, at the Strawberry Arena. The gala will be broadcast live on SVT1 and SVT Play from 8:00 PM to 10:30 PM, with pre-show and post-show coverage available on SVT Play. The evening promises a blend of award presentations, musical performances, and tributes, commencing with an opening number by Björn Dixgård. The highly anticipated Jerring Prize, awarded to the most popular Swedish athlete as voted by the public, will be a focal point of the evening, with the winner revealed at the gala’s culmination.
The evening’s schedule is packed with a dynamic lineup of award presentations and entertainment. Following the opening performance, the top eight contenders for the Jerring Prize will be announced. The ceremony will then proceed with the awards for Team of the Year, Newcomer of the Year, Cheerleader of the Year, and Coach of the Year. The first half of the gala will conclude with the announcement of the Female Athlete of the Year. Interspersed between the awards will be musical performances and humorous segments.
The second half of the gala will feature the presentation of the prestigious Svenska Dagbladet Gold Medal, a humor segment by Micke Eriksson, and a musical performance by Laleh. The Swedish Sports Academy’s Honorary Award, a recognition not bestowed annually, will also be presented. The recipient of this prestigious accolade remains a secret until the gala. A poignant In Memoriam segment will follow, paying tribute to figures in the sports world who passed away during the preceding year. The gala will continue with the announcement of the Male Athlete of the Year, followed by the narrowing down of the Jerring Prize contenders.
The final stretch of the evening will see the presentation of the Sportspegel Prize and the Performance of the Year award. A musical performance by Alba August will precede the announcement of the Jerring Prize winner. The evening will culminate in the celebration of the publicly chosen athlete, marking the climax of the Swedish Sports Gala. The evening’s festivities promise to honor the dedication, skill, and accomplishments of athletes who represent Sweden across a diverse range of sports.
The nominees for the various awards represent a wide spectrum of athletic disciplines, highlighting Sweden’s sporting prowess. Contenders for Female Athlete of the Year include Sarah Sjöström (swimming), Jenny Rissveds (mountain biking), Isabelle Haak (volleyball), and Fridolina Rolfö (football). Vying for Male Athlete of the Year are Armand Duplantis (athletics), Truls Möregårdh (table tennis), Viktor Gyökeres (football), and Victor Lindgren (shooting). The Newcomer of the Year category features promising talents such as Tara Babulfath (judo), Vanessa Kamga (athletics), Lucas Bergvall (football), and Jakob Söderqvist (cycling).
The nomination process for these awards is a rigorous and structured undertaking. A nomination jury, comprising eleven members of the Swedish Sports Academy, convenes in the first week of November. The nomination period encompasses the timeframe from November 1st to October 31st of the following year. Prior to the jury meeting, national sports federations have the opportunity to propose nominees. The jury then selects four candidates for each category. Ballots containing all nominees are subsequently distributed to the over 300 members of the Sports Academy, who cast their votes. The results of this voting process are unveiled during the Sports Gala. Several nominees, including prominent athletes like Armand Duplantis and Sarah Sjöström, will be in attendance, while others, due to various commitments, will be absent. The gala also welcomes royal presence, with Prince Carl Philip and Prince Daniel expected to attend and participate in the award presentations. The presence of these esteemed individuals adds to the significance and grandeur of the event.
