Skaters stay home: no Alternative Dutch 11-City Tour in Sweden in late March either

There will definitely be no Alternative Dutch 11-City Tour in Sweden this year. Holidaymakers and tour skaters still saw a chance at the end of March. That is over, now that the negative travel advisory runs until 31 March.

Staying home: the last chance is gone

At first the government advised against travel abroad until mid- March. Which is why the tour on 19 February was cancelled.

• Then races on the sea ice of Luleå were moved to the second half of March.
• Which meant the organisation could ‘perhaps’ also organise a tour, an Alternative Dutch 11-City Tour, at the end of March.

At the press conference given by prime minister Mark Rutte it emerged that the advisory has been extended. Until 31 March, as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed.

It turned out to be the last chance in 2021 to skate an Alternative Dutch 11-City Tour in Sweden . The skating event is now looking to 2022.

Skating Luleå: a new and fine event in 2022

The Dutch organisation Skating Luleå has issued an official statement . It shows understanding and acceptance above all.

“The most important thing is and remains that we contain the COVID-19 virus , so that we can take part in sport freely again, without restrictions”, the organisation says.

“We are looking forward to a new and fine event in 2022. (…) May everyone be at the start again next year, full of passion and positivity.”

The municipality of Luleå regrets the forced cancellation

The municipality has responded to the cancellation of Skating Luleå. “The Skating Grand Prix and the tour that goes with it have become a welcome and popular feature of Luleå in winter”, mayor Fredrik Hansson begins.

Hansson goes on: “We are delighted that for several years we had the chance to prepare a track in central Luleå for your event.”

“It is wonderful that the nature we can offer here in northern Sweden suits you so well and draws so many different kinds of skaters from the Netherlands every year.”

The mayor also expresses his appreciation for the collaboration. “And we regret that the event has been forced to cancel this year because of the continuing pandemic. Keep going and look after one another.”