SM-veckan in Umeå 2023. Photo: Bea Holmberg.
Umeå: Sweden’s Premier Sports City
Umeå, a city steeped in sporting excellence, has been crowned Sweden’s Best Sports City three times in the last six years – awarded by the Swedish public service television company.
Umeå is home to several top athletes and elite clubs. On yearly basis the city is hosting top-tier sporting events.
The World’s Best Floorball Club
At the Women’s Champions Cup in Finnish Lempäälä, Team Thorengruppen (TTG) emerged victorious, solidifying their status as the best floorball team in Europe for 2023. Former European champions, IKSU Innebandy, had previously hoisted the trophy seven times over the course of 15 seasons, before closing down their professional team in 2019. Now, Umeå proudly boasts a new champion-team in their ranks.
TTG’s triumph extends beyond Europe; they clinched consecutive titles in the Swedish Super League for the 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 seasons.
3 x athletes from Umeå
1. David Åhman – a rising star who, alongside Jonatan Hellvig, won his first competition on the World Beach Pro Tour in May 2022. In August 2022 they became European champions and in October 2023 they won a silver medal in the World Championships in Mexico.
2. Jonna Sundling – the amazing cross-country skier from Tvärålund, near Umeå. She has already left her mark on the world of cross-country skiing with over 30 individual podiums in the World Cup and Stage World Cup, four gold medals in the World Championships, and one gold, one silver and one bronze medal from the Winter Olympic Games in Bejing. Keep an eye on her this winter season!
3. Hanna Ljungberg – Local football hero. A remarkable footballer that made her mark on the Swedish National team. She played 130 games and scored an impressive 72 goals, surpassing the previous record set by Pia Sundhage. But her achievements extend beyond the national stage. Hanna secured an astounding seven national championships and emerged victorious in the UEFA Women’s Cup twice with Umeå IK.
Rally Sweden 2024, Red Barn Arena, Umeå. Umeå is the only winter rally in the World Rally Championship. Photo: Patrick Trädgårdh.
Top-tier sporting events
SM-veckan is one of the mayor sporting events hosted in Umeå in recent years.
192 new Swedish champions, 15,000 in the crowd during the events and 63 hours of broadcasting time on national television. The Swedish Championships turned Umeå into a giant sports arena in summer of 2023.
The people of Umeå can´t seem to get enough when it comes to major sporting events. 2,100 active athletes along with around 500 leaders gathered in Umeå för the Swedish Championships. Close to 1,400 dedicated officials and volunteers worked tirelessly to manage all practical aspects within the arenas. Their efforts ensured the smooth functioning of the event, allowing athletes and spectators to fully enjoy the experience.