The Mayor of Stockholm, Sweden, Anna König Jerlmyr, has written a letter to the Swedish government, pleading with them to allow the CS:GO Major Stockholm 2021 to take place, Ninjas in Pyjamas tweeted.
In June, DOTA2’s The International 2021 was already moved from Stockholm to Bucharest, Romania. In the letter, which was translated to English by Twitter user AxelNordin2, the mayor argues that Sweden needs more sports and esports events, not fewer.
CS:GO’s 2021 Major in danger of being moved from Sweden
Sweden is slowly opening back up after the pandemic. Had esports been part of the “Riksidrottsförbundet”, which roughly translates to The Swedish National Sports Organization, events would have been able to take place without issues, Mayor König Jerlmyr argues in the letter.
With local businesses trying to survive throughout the pandemic, she writes that it “would not only enrich visitors, but also the industries which have been hit hard by the ongoing pandemic.”
“I have the biggest respect for the pandemic,” the mayor writes in the translated letter. “But the state of infection is now getting better and just a couple of days ago, the 12th of July, the Minister of Trade and Industry and the State Epidemiologist informed us about the next step in the liquidation of restrictions. In addition, the vaccination is moving forward at a fast pace with over 70 percent vaccinated in the region of Stockholm. At the moment of the CS:GO Major, it is estimated that the entire adult population will have gotten at least their first dose of the vaccine.”
She also argues that should the CS:GO Major be moved from Sweden, it would send a clear signal that Sweden and its government does not care for esports. She writes that a decision to give permission for the CS:GO Major must have been made by July 16, so there is no time left.
“I really hope that the government takes the chance and lets the CS:GO Major’s fans experience Stockholm and let the people of Stockholm show our beautiful city to them,” she concludes. It is unknown whether the Swedish government has made a decision yet.
Published: Jul 16, 2021 10:45 am