• Fact Check: Media organisations falsely report that Sweden declared 'Sex as a Sport'

    National
    Fact Check: Media organisations falsely report that Sweden declared 'Sex as a Sport'

    Media outlets such as Times of India, Hindustan Times, and India Today shared the claim, however, they later deleted it or edited it to say that this information is not verified.

    Digital
    Desk:
    On social media, a statement about Sweden officially classifying sex as a
    sport has gone viral.



    The
    allegation further indicates that the Swedish Sex Federation will host the country's
    first-ever sex tournament, dubbed the "European Sex Championship."



    It
    also includes a list of the competition's rules and regulations.



    Who
    shared it?



    Several social media users shared it along with a
    verified account on Twitter, The Tatva, ring-wing propaganda website, Op India
    and media outlets like Zee News Madhya Pradesh, Zee News Kannad, Zee News
    Bengali and News18.



    Media outlets such as Times of India, Hindustan
    Times, and India Today shared the claim, however, they later deleted it or edited
    it to say that this information is not verified.



    Is this correct?



    No, sex has not been legally accepted as a sport in
    Sweden, nor is the 'Sex Federation' a member of the Swedish Sports
    Confederation.



    How
    did we find out the truth?



    We searched the
    Swedish Sports Confederation's official website and found no official mention
    regarding the viral sex competition. 



     



    Using a relevant
    keyword search, we discovered a report published on April 26 by a Swedish news
    outlet, Goterborgs-Posten.



     



     



    • According to the
    study, competing in sex is not recognized by the National Sports Confederation.



     



    • It went on to
    say that the Swedish Sex Federation's application to get sex recognised as a
    sport was denied because it was incomplete.



     



    • No other
    European news outlets had reported on the alleged'sex competition' taking place
    in June.


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    ·      We contacted the Swedish Sports Confederation, who confirmed to The Quint
    that Sex Federation is not a member of the Swedish Sports Confederation, as
    previously stated.



     



    ·     "The Swedish Sports Confederation has drawn attention to the fact
    that in some parts of the international media news is currently being spread
    that a Sex federation should be a member of Swedish Sports Confederation,"
    said Anna Setzman, Head of Communication and Press for the Swedish Sports
    Confederation. It is false information designed to tarnish Swedish sports and
    Sweden."



     



    ·     We also reached out to the local news outlets: Hugo Ewald Hurinsky,
    the fact editor of the Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter, also stated that the
    assertion is untrue.



     



     Another reporter, sa Larsson, founder of the
    Swedish news outlet Källkritikbyrn, also refuted the assertion that Sweden
    accepts sex as a sport.



     



    Swedish Sex
    Federation's website: We discovered a website for this group, but we are not
    including the link because it does not appear trustworthy.The website also
    included another link and a message announcing a 'championship' for sex in
    Sweden on June 8th.



     



    • The 'About us'
    portion of the website claims that the group is 'organised, accepted, and
    sanctioned by Swedish authorities,' but does not elaborate.



    Conclusion: Sweden
    has not declared sex as a sport and it's sports confederation is not involved
    with the 'Swedish Sex Federation' for hosting 'sex tournaments'.


    CREDITS: THE QUINT