Swedish Olympic Committee Backs Faroe Islands Campaign for Olympic Recognition

Tórshavn, Faroe Islands; 18 September 2019:

The Swedish Olympic Committee is the latest National Olympic Committee to come out in support of the Faroe Islands campaign for Olympic recognition. In a statement from the Swedish NOC, its President Mats Årjes, Vice President Per Palmström and Chief Operating Officer Peter Reinebo said:

"NOC Sweden with this, express support to the Faroese Confederation of Sports and Olympic Committee in the work of getting international recognition by International Federations [IFs] and the International Olympic Committee."

The support from NOC Sweden follows similar backing from the NOCs of Denmark, Iceland and Norway.

Jon Hestoy, Vice President of the Faroese Confederation of Sports and Olympic Committee said:

"I would like to thank the Swedish Olympic Committee for its support in our campaign for Olympic status, which adds to that already received from Denmark, Iceland and Norway. With Tokyo 2020 fast approaching, the coming months provide an important opportunity for us to show why the Faroe Islands deserve Olympic recognition.

"We are founding members of the International Paralympic Committee and have competed in every summer Paralympics since 1984. All we are asking for is a similar opportunity to compete in the Olympic Games. Moreover, the Faroe Islands is already recognised by seven Intentional Federations including FIFA, and we are in active discussions with a number of other major IFs to gain membership. Our campaign has momentum, logic and a huge amount of goodwill behind it and we look forward to further constructive talks with the Olympic family so we can realise our dream."

>>ENDS

Notes to Editors

About the Faroe Islands

The Faroe Islands, which has a population of 52,000, has been a self-governing region of the Kingdom of Denmark since 1948 and competes in the Olympic Games as Denmark. Located north-west of Scotland’s Shetland Islands and almost 1,000km from Denmark, the Faroe Islands has been campaigning for more than 40 years for Olympic recognition. The Faroese Confederation of Sports was established in 1939 and its Olympic Committee in 1982. Sport on the islands is 100% self-funded, including all anti-doping activities [no sport funding comes from Denmark]. 18,000 Faroese are members of sports clubs which is driven and overseen by the FCSOC.

Faroe Islands is a founding member of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and has competed in every Paralympic Summer Games since 1984. It is also recognised in its own right by eight International Federations: archery, badminton, football, handball, judo, swimming, table tennis and volleyball.

Visit our website: https://isf.fo/faroese-confederation-of-sports-olympic-committee/

For more information

Amelia Fisher-Starzynski

VERO Communications

Email: afisher-starzynski@verocom.co.uk

Phone: +44 (0)7557 418 187

Follow the Faroese campaign for Olympic Recognition on Twitter: @FaroeOlympic

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